Why is adoption forbidden in Islam?
لماذا حرم الإسلام التبني؟
While Islam highly rewards taking care of orphans, it draws a strict line against altering their legal identity. Falsely attributing a child to a lineage that is not theirs creates a cascade of religious, social, and financial complications.
في حين يكافئ الإسلام رعاية الأيتام بشكل كبير، فإنه يضع خطا صارما ضد تغيير هويتهم القانونية. إن نسبة الطفل زورا إلى نسب ليس نسبه يخلق سلسلة من التعقيدات الدينية والاجتماعية والمالية.
1. Preventing the Intermingling of Genealogy | منع اختلاط الأنساب
Adoption is forbidden in Islam so that it does not lead to an intermingling of genealogy. In addition to that, it makes sinful what Allah has made legal; that is, it falsely prohibits a widow or divorcee of an adopted man from marrying the adoptive father.
The Prophet pbuh completely invalidated this false societal restriction by marrying Ms Zainab bint Jahsh after her divorce from Zayd ibn Harith. This monumental event serves as definitive proof that there is no restriction for marrying the wives of adopted children, successfully abolishing the traditions of ignorance.
لئلا يؤدي إلى اختلاط الأنساب كما أن فيها تحريم ما أحل الله، مثل عدم زواج مطلقة الابن بالتبني من المتبني.
وأبطله الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم، بزواجه من السيدة زينب بنت جحش بعد طلاقها من زيد بن حارثة، فهذا دليل قاطع على عدم الحرج من الزواج بزوجات الأبناء من التبني وإسقاط لعادات الجاهلية.
2. Protecting the Rights of Heirs | حماية حقوق الورثة
Another major reason is so that the adoption does not result in the loss of the rights of heirs by unjustly including those who are not entitled to inheritance. Because true inheritance is the divine right of the biological children exclusively.
If an adopted child is legally treated as a biological one, they would take wealth that rightfully belongs to the actual heirs. Over time, this misplaced inheritance can create deep hatred, resentment, and vengeance between the orphan and the true biological children.
لئلا يؤدي التبني إلى إهدار حقوق الورثة بإدخال من لا يستحق من الإرث عليهم لأنه ليس بمنزلتهم. لأن الميراث من حق الأبناء الصلبيين حصرا.
ولأن التوارث بمثل هذه الطريقة الخاطئة قد يخلق البغضاء والشحناء والضغينة بين اليتيم وأبناء المتبني الحقيقيين.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Why does adoption make lawful things sinful?
In pre Islamic traditions, an adoptive father could not marry the divorced wife of his adopted son, treating it like a biological relationship. Islam abolished this, proving that legal adoption does not create biological ties.
What was the wisdom behind the Prophet marrying Zainab bint Jahsh?
Zainab was previously married to Zayd ibn Harith, who was the adopted son of the Prophet pbuh before adoption was forbidden. This marriage practically proved to the community that adopted children are not biological children, entirely breaking the taboos of the era of ignorance.
How does adoption cause hatred regarding inheritance?
If an adopted child receives a mandatory inheritance share just like a biological child, it unjustly takes wealth away from the rightful biological heirs. This perceived injustice can easily spark severe resentment and enmity between the children.