Adopted Son: Is He A Mahram To His Adopting

September 4, 2010

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Question

I was wondering, if a couple adopts a child, would the child still be non-mahram for the woman if it was a boy or for vice-versa for the man. If so, then the woman would have to still wear hijab if the child was a boy when he hit puberty? and would not be able to touch him? and the same for the man (with respect to being around a non-mahram woman) if the child was a girl?

Answered by: Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

Assalamu alaykum

In the name of Allah the Inspirer of truth.

Yes, the male child that is adopted will become a non-mahram for the women after reaching puberty and she will be obligated to observe hijab from him just as from any other non-mahram male person. It will not be permitted for her to touch him either.

Likewise is the ruling for the man. The adopted girl will have to observe hijab from him, and he will be obligated to follow the same rulings with her just as with any other non-mahram female, for example lowering the gaze and prohibition of being alone in a room or touching her, etc.

The reason for this is that this child is considered a “stranger” for them, since there is no blood or milk relationship. Yes if the child was breastfed by the adopting mother before it reached the age of two then these restrictions will not apply.

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

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Dr. Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf

Dr. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera is a British Muslim scholar educated in both the Islamic and Western traditions. He memorised the Qur’an by heart and graduated from the Darul Uloom seminary Bury, UK, and later earned a specialised licence to issue fatwa (legal responses) at Mazahir ‘Ulum Saharanpur, India. He earned his BA from the University of Johannesburg and completed his MA and PhD in Islamic Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He holds an honorary fellowship at The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Amman, Jordan. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman has the unique experience of serving as an imam in Muslim communities on both sides of the Atlantic, eight years in Southern California and over five in the great city of London—and his continued work as an international speaker and lecturer enables him to address and offer pertinent advice on current challenges that face Muslims in the West. He is the founder of Whitethread Institute, a post-graduate insititute for Islamic scholars. He is an avid traveller and continues to teach hadith and work on scholarly publications through White Thread Press (www.whitethreadpress.com). Many of his lectures are available on www.zamzamacademy.com and his courses through Rayyan Institute (www.rayyaninstitute.com).