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Forums Forums Islam and Family Using The Surname Of The Adoptive Parents

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  • Using The Surname Of The Adoptive Parents

    Posted by Muhammad Sami ud-Din on August 5, 2023 at 8:43 am

    Asselamu aleykum,

    According to Ustad e Mohtaram (ha), Children should be always aware of their biological parents in Islam.

    My question is, can someone who is adopted by someone else, have their surname, knowing about his biological parents. It could give a false impression that those who adopted him, are his biological parents.

    Kindly clarify.

    Ayub Hamid replied 9 months, 1 week ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Using The Surname Of The Adoptive Parents

    Ayub Hamid updated 9 months, 1 week ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
  • Umer

    Moderator August 7, 2023 at 9:31 am

    It is the right of the child that should not be violated at any cost. Misconceptions at a later life among other people can be rectified, however the psychological toll for the child himself is too big to rectify and compensate at a later stage. Therefore, Adopted child should always be made aware of his/her biological parents. If this point has been properly taken care of, then foster parents can use their names as father and mother of that child. Usually the legislation in this regard is done at a state level.

    Please refer to the video below from 22:53 to 26:20

  • Muhammad Sami ud-Din

    Member August 8, 2023 at 11:21 am

    But, if it is permissible then why the Holy Prophet (sav) changed back the name of his adoptive son, “Zayd ibn Muhammad (ra)” to “Zayd ibn Haritha (ra)” after Islam?

    • Umer

      Moderator August 9, 2023 at 7:54 am

      It was the first time enforcement of this directive against norms of the Arabs, so it makes sense to go an extra mile and implement this change with practical measures that were most suitable for that time (since the names of Arabs were through lineage with a “bin” or “binte). Secondly, it was the custom of the Arabs that adopted son was considered a real son which resulted in the change of lineage of the adopted son in his name; in order to counter this custom, it was imperative that names must be reverted back to the old lineage. Lastly, now we have laws at a state level which ensure protection of biological lineage of an adopted children, therefore, now instead of using the lineage with our names, we rely on government records.

      It was the implmentation of the same principle which took different practical forms depending on the circumstances and norms of the particular society.

  • Ayub Hamid

    Member August 9, 2023 at 7:34 pm

    The Qur’aan’s command is very clear, without any ambiguity, اُدۡعُوۡهُمۡ لِاٰبَآٮِٕهِمۡ, i.e. Name the adopted children after their real fathers. No Muslim has any right to remove its applicability under whatever pretext.

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