Adoption and foster care are topics seldom discussed in many Muslim circles today. However, caring for orphaned children and at-risk youth is a practice repeatedly mentioned in our Islamic tradition through the Qur’an and the life of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. In what Allah describes as “the best of stories,” the chapter of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) in the Qur’an, we read of the Aziz of Egypt purchasing Yusuf and telling his wife to honor him so perhaps they may adopt him as a son. In the story of Prophet Musa, Pharaoh’s wife, Asiya, takes pity on the infant Musa and asks that he be spared so they might raise him in their household. In Maryam’s story, the elders cast lots to determine who would become her guardian after her mother dedicated her to the service of the temple.
Even more significant is the example of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who experienced the defenselessness of orphanhood at a young age. After his parents’ death, he was cared for first by his grandfather, Abdul-Muttalib, and later by his uncle Abu Talib, who raised and protected him into adulthood. The Prophet later brought his young cousin Ali into his household to ease his uncle’s financial burden. When Khadija gifted him Zayd ibn Harithah as a servant, the Prophet freed him and raised him with the love and care of a son. After Khadija’s death, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, married several widows and divorcees and helped care for their children as if they were his own. Despite this rich legacy of compassion toward orphans and vulnerable children, adoption and foster care are subjects many Muslims rarely discuss and at times even approach with hesitation or misunderstanding.
Stigma surrounding foster care and adoption in Muslim communities may stem from several factors, including misunderstandings of Qur’anic verses and prophetic practices, misinformation about Islamic rulings, and cultural attitudes that shape these issues’ public perception. To explore the topic further, I interviewed Basmah Salam, MPA, MA, a senior development and fundraising professional with extensive experience in community service and nonprofit leadership, whose master’s thesis focused on adoption and foster care in Islam.
Salam’s interest in Islamic-centered adoption and foster care emerged from professional exposure, community observation, and personal reflection. After five years in the administrative department of a Houston Islamic school, she recognized the profound impact educators could have on children who were not their own, sparking her awareness of how much community support shapes a child’s development. Salam saw the saying “it takes a village to raise a child” unfold in real time. Her academic background in nutrition, with a focus on maternal and child health, deepened her understanding of family dynamics and care beyond traditional biological boundaries. She said, “Growing up in the U.S. in a traditional South Asian family means family always looked a certain way. But as you grow older, you learn that families can look different.” Salam noticed single-parent families, co-parenting relationships, blended families, intercultural unions, and even couples who had adopted children, although those were few and far between.
While pursuing advanced degrees in public administration and Islamic studies, she became interested in exploring adoption for herself but perceived a silence and misunderstanding among Muslims about adoption, especially regarding lineage, permissibility, and social stigma. Witnessing both the unmet needs of orphans and foster children and the hesitations within Muslim communities to engage with adoption as an act of worship and compassion, Salam was compelled to research the topic for her graduate thesis for Bayan Islamic Graduate School. What began as personal curiosity transformed into a mission to reconcile faith, community responsibility, and the human need to nurture. Salam described her thesis as “an emotional journey” that became a way to bridge classical principles with modern realities while describing how mercy and social care lie at the heart of the sunnah.
Her thesis, titled “Adopting Muhammad: The Merciful Fiqh Behind a Renowned Sunnah” (2024), evolved naturally through Salam’s studies, including courses in Islamic law and identity development. During school, she explored the legal and ethical dimensions of adoption to demystify what she called a “misunderstood sunnah.” She emphasized Muhammad’s life as an orphan and as someone who cared for others, including how early Islamic society valued guardianship while maintaining the integrity of lineage. Her thesis stated, “despite Prophet Muhammad having been an orphan himself and having encouraged supporting orphans, adoption may be viewed by some Muslims, surprisingly, as prohibited in Islam.” Nevertheless, Islamic history demonstrates unequivocally that Islam did not forbid adoption but instead refined it within ethical boundaries to preserve identity and justice.
Regarding the Muslim community’s biggest misconceptions about adoption and foster care, Salam said many people mistakenly believe adoption is forbidden, often misunderstanding the Qur’anic verses revealed during the Prophet Muhammad’s time about lineage and naming. Allah says in the Qur’an:
“Allah does not place two hearts in any person’s chest… Nor does He regard your adopted children as your real children. These are only your baseless assertions. But Allah declares the truth, and He ˹alone˺ guides to the ˹Right˺ Way. Let your adopted children keep their family names. That is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you do not know their fathers, then they are ˹simply˺ your fellow believers and close associates. There is no blame on you for what you do by mistake, but ˹only˺ for what you do intentionally. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an 33:4-5)
Salam explained that the verses were meant to preserve a child’s biological heritage, not to prohibit adoption altogether. She noted some families also feel taking in a child who is not biologically their own could somehow harm the child emotionally or religiously, when in fact Islam encourages providing care and love through kafalah, or guardianship. Early in her studies, Salam realized that even when Muslim families are open to adopting, they limit their choices to newborns or infants. She explained that the preference for babies usually stems from the Islamic ruling that a child under two can establish a mahram (kinship) bond through breastfeeding. From a religious perspective, that concept makes adopting an infant seem more straightforward. However, she stressed this preference, while understandable, effectively sidelines older children who remain in the system without families.
Whenever she encountered Muslim families or individuals who were in the process of adopting, Salam said, “Everyone was adopting a newborn. No one was adopting a kid… it was always a baby.” Many families, she explained, see breastfeeding as the only way to navigate issues of lineage and mahram relationships, but, in reality, this solution is often not medically or practically feasible for all women. Narrowing adoption to infants means communities miss the broader teachings of benevolence and inclusivity the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, embodied. He cared for older children and emphasized human dignity over kinship.
Salam also identified financial concerns and social stigma as significant barriers that may discourage prospective foster or adoptive parents. Some families fear the added financial responsibility, while others worry about how an adopted or foster child may be perceived within their communities. Ultimately, Salam said these “misconceptions create unnecessary obstacles to a merciful Sunnah,” urging Muslims to view adoption and foster care as acts of mercy and social responsibility rather than something objectionable.
Reflecting on her research, Salam offered thoughtful and faith-centered advice for Muslims who wish to support children in need while remaining grounded in Islamic values. She said families should begin with “making an intention,” explaining that when Muslims sincerely set their hearts on caring for children, “Allah, in His own way, guides us to the right things.” The key, she said, is “adopting the correct mindset first.” She encouraged prospective adoptive or foster parents to trust in unseen blessings and to rely on Allah’s ability to provide for them in unimaginable ways. Salam advised families to seek education on the adoption and foster systems in their localities, to prepare financially, and to engage with community resources.
Above all, Muslim families must look into what Islam has taught us about caring for orphans and the needy. She especially stressed that individuals who want to adopt or foster look to children here in the U.S., not just those abroad. Her hope is to remind others that the life of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, models compassion for orphans and vulnerable children everywhere. She said, “If he were here right now, he would have adopted everyone.”
Looking ahead, Salam is optimistic that greater awareness and compassion will reshape the issue. “I do see it changing,” she said, noting that more open conversations about infertility, singlehood, and nontraditional family structures are pushing communities to reconsider longstanding taboos. She also hopes to lead by example, sharing her own desire to adopt and “start talking about it,” in order to show that single Muslims and families of modest means can still provide loving homes through foster-to-adopt programs. For Salam, the future depends on Muslims reclaiming this prophetic legacy of caring for vulnerable children. Speaking candidly about the lack of Muslim-led adoption infrastructure in America, she remarked, “It’s disgusting that we are Muslims and we don’t have an adoption agency in America… Adoption is supposed to be our thing!”
Salam recalled hearing the Prophet, peace be upon him, referred to as “the orphan who adopted the world.” Indeed, he was a caring servant leader to all believers and a champion for the rights of orphans and the poor. To imitate him means caring for the most vulnerable in our communities, beginning with the youth. For Salam, adopting, fostering, or simply supporting children in need should be seen as an act of faith and mercy, deeply rooted in the Prophet’s sunnah. To do so, Muslim families must move beyond hesitation and reclaim adoption and kafalah as living expressions of prophetic love, transforming a misunderstood practice into a courageous act of communal care.
Disclaimer:
“Legal rulings concerning adoption, inheritance, and establishing kinship with adopted children can vary. Interested parties should consult a scholar for more information.”
