The Ruling on Adoption in Islam and Its Evidence

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Question:
The questioner, Salim, says: I am asking about the ruling on adoption in Islam. When was it forbidden? And what is the evidence for that from the Qur'an and the Sunnah?

Answer:
Adoption is forbidden in Islam, and the evidence for this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:

Allah has not made for a man two hearts in his interior

مَّا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِرَجُلٍ مِّن قَلْبَيْنِ فِي جَوْفِهِ

[Al-Ahzab 33:4]

and He did not make your adopted sons your sons

And He has not made your wives whom you declare unlawful your mothers. And he has not made your adopted sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allah says

وَمَا جَعَلَ أَزْوَاجَكُمُ اللَّائِي تُظَاهِرُونَ مِنْهُنَّ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَدْعِيَاءَكُمْ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ قَوْلُكُم بِأَفْوَاهِكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَقُولُ

[Al-Ahzab 33:4]

(Exalted and Majestic is He) call them by their fathers' names; that is more just in the sight of Allah, and

if you do not know their fathers - then they are [still] your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you

لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوا آبَاءَهُمْ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَمَوَالِيكُمْ

[Al-Ahzab 33:5]

.
He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:

Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets

مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ

[Al-Ahzab 33:40]

So Allah invalidated adoption in Islam. And the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is that he did not adopt Zayd ibn Harithah, but rather considered him his client. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,

Source نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 03/271 — archive.org (11:41)

The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.

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