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Wants to adopt her husband's children from his late wife

Question

Is it permissable for a Christian wife of a widowed Muslim with children to adopt the children as if they are her own? I have been reading about adoption in Islam and can't see an answer to a situation such as this.

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  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

Adopting children is absolutely forbidden in Islam, so it is not permissible for this woman to adopt those children because she is not really their mother; Allaah Says (what means): {And He has not made your claimed [i.e. adopted] sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allaah Says the truth, and He guides to the [right] way.}[Quran 33:4]

Therefore, the case that is mentioned in the question is not an exception to that general ruling.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 84422 and 82371.

Allaah Knows best.

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