In Islam, caring for a parentless or vulnerable children is not only allowed—it’s a virtuous act. But the Western legal form of adoption can raise concerns about lineage, inheritance, and identity.
At American Adoptions, we honor the importance of that balance. While religious guidance should always come from your imam or scholar, we can help you understand how adoption works in the U.S. and what options may fit your beliefs.
If you’re ready to explore your options, fill out our form. Our specialists are here to listen, answer your questions, and help you move forward with confidence and care.
Is Adoption Halal in Islam?
The question of whether adoption is halal depends on how adoption is defined and practiced.
Caring for children in need is unquestionably encouraged in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad himself was an orphan, and the Quran repeatedly emphasizes the virtue of protecting and nurturing orphaned children.
However, what Islam prohibits is changing a child’s lineage or concealing their true parentage. The Quran explicitly states: “Call them by the names of their fathers; that is more just with Allah” (Quran 33:5).
So what does this mean? Providing a home, love, education, and financial support to a child is halal and deeply virtuous. What’s considered haram is legally replacing the child’s biological family identity with your own—essentially treating the adopted child as if they were born to you biologically in all legal and social respects.
This creates tension with modern U.S. adoption law, which does involve changing a child’s legal status and typically their surname.
Understanding Kafala: The Islamic Form of Adoption
Kafala is the Islamic alternative to Western-style adoption, and it’s fully permissible under Islamic law.
The term kafala comes from the Arabic word meaning “to guarantee” or “to take care of.”
In a kafala arrangement, a family becomes the legal guardian of a child, providing for all their needs—housing, food, education, emotional support, and upbringing.
However, kafala differs from Western adoption in key ways:
- The child retains their biological family’s surname. They maintain their legal connection to their birth family’s lineage.
- Inheritance rights follow Islamic law rather than automatic inheritance as a biological child would receive.
- The child’s true parentage is never concealed—transparency about their origins is required.
Can an Adopted Child Take My Last Name?
Within Islamic law, no—giving an adopted child your last name is not permitted.
This restriction stems directly from Quranic guidance about preserving lineage. The child must be known by their biological father’s name, even if that father is unknown or absent from their life.
However, in private domestic adoption in the United States, the legal process requires that the child take the adoptive parents’ last name. This is not optional—it’s part of how adoption is legally structured in American law.
This creates a genuine dilemma for Muslim families. U.S. law mandates something that Islamic law prohibits.
How Modern Adoption Differs — and How Muslims Can Navigate It
In the U.S., adoption legally transfers parental rights from birth parents to adoptive parents. The child’s original birth certificate is sealed, and a new one is issued naming the adoptive parents as the legal parents.
For Muslim families, this can raise important questions about how to honor both faith and law. There’s no single approach, but several paths families commonly take:
Legal adoption with transparency
Some Muslim families complete a legal adoption while maintaining openness about the child’s origins.
They may see open adoption—where the child knows and may stay connected with their birth family—as more consistent with Islamic values than closed adoption.
Following scholarly guidance
Others consult Islamic scholars who issue contemporary fatwas for Muslims in non-Muslim countries.
These scholars often permit legal adoption under U.S. law as long as the child’s lineage is preserved and inheritance is handled through Islamic estate planning.
Choosing long-term guardianship
Some families opt for permanent guardianship or foster care instead, providing lifelong care without legally changing the child’s identity.
Understanding how the adoption process begins can help you decide which path aligns best with your family’s faith and values.
Should You Speak With a Religious Leader Before Adopting?
Yes, absolutely. This decision should be made with religious guidance.
Before making this important decision, we strongly encourage you to consult with a knowledgeable imam or Islamic scholar who understands both Islamic jurisprudence and the realities of living as a Muslim in America.
A religious leader can help you understand the specific Islamic concerns regarding adoption, explore whether there are permissible ways to structure the arrangement, discuss how to handle inheritance, and address questions about mahram relationships and modesty requirements as the child grows.
Many imams and scholars recognize the virtue of caring for orphaned children and may help you find solutions that work within your faith framework.
Consulting them before you begin the adoption home study process will give you clarity and confidence.
What Scholars Say About Modern Adoption
Islamic scholars hold diverse views on modern adoption in Western contexts.
Traditional interpretations maintain that Western-style adoption is not permissible because it alters lineage, which the Quran prohibits.
Resources like Islam Question & Answer emphasize that while caring for orphans is highly virtuous, legal adoption as practiced in the West can conflict with Sharia principles.
Contemporary scholars, however, have explored more flexible interpretations. The Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality found that adoption may be acceptable when ethical guidelines are followed—especially in open adoptions where the child’s identity and origins remain known.
Legal scholar Faisal Kutty similarly argues that open adoption can align with Islamic values by preserving lineage while providing care.
Some institutions, like the Singaporean Fatwa Committee, also recognize that concerns around mahram relationships should not prevent Muslim families from adopting and suggest certain allowances for adoptive families.
Families are encouraged to seek personal guidance from their imam or trusted scholar when considering adoption.
How American Adoptions Supports Muslim Families
At American Adoptions, we’re committed to supporting families of all faiths with cultural sensitivity and respect for Islamic principles.
We encourage transparency throughout the adoption process. Open adoption, where birth parents and adoptive parents maintain some level of contact and the child always knows their birth family, aligns more closely with Islamic emphasis on preserving lineage knowledge.
We work with you to understand your specific concerns and preferences. Every family is different, and we take time to hear about the religious guidance you’ve received and how you want to structure your family.
Our goal is to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your faith and your desire to care for a child in need. Learning why families choose American Adoptions can help you understand our approach and values.
How to Adopt as a Muslim Family
If you’ve spoken with your imam or scholar and determined that adoption is permissible for your family, here’s how the process typically works:
- 1. Connect with American Adoptions. Speak with an adoption specialist who can explain each step, answer your questions, and help you begin confidently.
- 2. Complete your home study. This includes background checks, interviews, and home visits to ensure a safe, supportive environment for your future child.
- 3. Share your story. Through your Adoptive Parent Questionnaire and family profile, you’ll introduce yourself to expectant mothers considering adoption.
- 4. Match and build a relationship. A birth mother will choose you, and you’ll have the opportunity to connect before your baby’s birth.
- 5. Welcome your child home. After placement, you’ll bring your baby home and finalize the adoption in court a few months later.
Throughout the process, you can remain transparent with your child about their origins, honor Islamic guidelines on inheritance through estate planning, and raise them with love and faith—knowing their full story.
Adoption Can Be a Blessing in Islam
Whether through kafala, fostering, legal adoption, or another form of guardianship, Muslim families have always answered the call to open their homes and hearts to children who need love and stability.
If you’re a Muslim family exploring adoption, know that your compassion comes from a place of deep faith.
You can fill out our form to learn about how adoption works in the U.S., what options align with your beliefs, and how to make choices that honor both your faith and your desire to help a child.
Our adoption specialists are here to guide you through every question and step, helping you find a path that feels right for your family.
