Living with aunt and uncle and wants to love her natural parents
Fatwa No: 88415

Question

I'm from Canada. I was born into a great family and I have 3 sisters and one brother, however my parents gave me up to my aunt and her husband and was named after them because they can't have kids. My bio parents felt that I'm going to have a better life and they also wanted to save a marriage. They felt that I'm going to be in good hands because I was in the family. Therefore, I want to learn bout my obligations toward my bio parents and my mom and dad who I love to death.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

Adoption in the sense that a person is considered as a real child of the adopting persons and traced back to them as their real children is forbidden in Islam. Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {Call them (those children under your care) by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah.}[33:5].

Islam does not approve of tracing the lineage of children back to other than the real father. The Prophet said: "Whoever knowingly claims to belong to someone other than his father has committed disbelief." So, everyone who did otherwise has to change his attribution to this reality.

As regards your living with your aunt and her husband and being raised by them, though it is allowed it does not change any ruling of Islam. You have to be dutiful and kind to your parents and you will inherit from them and they from you.

On the other hand, your aunt's husband does not become your unmarriageable male relative; he is alien for you. Thus, he is not allowed to look at you or to stay with you in seclusion unless there is a reason that allows it, such as being a blood relative, like being your paternal uncle, or by a suckling relationship.

Allaah knows best.

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