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Subject: adoption & islam

Author:
Salma

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Date Posted: 15:22:53 09/09/02 Mon
Author Host/IP: cache-sio.midco.net/24.220.0.48

Salaam alaikum

Here's the issue: I'm a convert. I was adopted when I was 2 months old. I know I was with another family, not my birth family, from whenever I got out of the hospital until my permanent home was found.

I don't deny being adopted, and I've chosen a different name to go by after converting---does not contain my adopted family's name.

I don't remember what the discussion was here on the website, but one of the users (not a teacher here or a shaykh just some other user) told me I can't do that, that we will go to hell for using names other than that of our birth family. But what about people like, oh....Yusuf Islam?

My question is: Do I have any obligation under Islamic law to find my birth family? Do I have to find their name and use it? And do I have any obligation to pay someone to find them so that I can contact them and try to meet them?

My personal thoughts on paying someone to find them is this: Maybe there is a *reason* I'm not supposed to know who they are and all that. If Allah has willed it that I should not know this, then I'm NOT going to find out, even if I could pay someone a million dollars...that's why I haven't done it.

Salaam alaikum
Salma

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[> Subject: Re: adoption & islam

Author:
moustafa morsy
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Date Posted: 12:20:40 09/10/02 Tue
Author Host/IP: mt.24.171.69.29.charter-stl.com/24.171.69.29

Assalaam Alikom.
You have to thank Allah that He guided you to the Islam ,to worship Him alone,Alhamdlilla.
Many people they say (fatwa) or answer questions about islam without knowledge which is not right and it is a big sin too,Allah says in the Quran (what it means): Say (O Muhammad SAW): "(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al�Faw�hish (great evil sins, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with All�h for which He has given no authority, and saying things about All�h of which you have no knowledge." .
About your first question ,the answer is in theQuran ,where Allah (S W T ) says(the meaning): Call them (adopted sons) by (the names of) their fathers, that is more just with All�h. But if you know not their father's (names, call them) your brothers in faith and Maw�l�kum (your freed slaves). And there is no sin on you if you make a mistake therein, except in regard to what your hearts deliberately intend. And All�h is Ever OftForgiving, Most Merciful.33/5.

So, if you know your real father ,you should carry his name, but if you do not know ,then do not take a name of a certain person even for the one who adopted you ,as example you can take the name of (Abd Allah) as your fatrer,s name which it means the servent of Allah,because all men can be named by Abd Allah (servent of Allah),then your name could be : Salmaa Abd Allah,where AbdAllah is a not certain person, but your intention that Abdallah is your real father ,If it is not easy to find your real family then,it is not obligatory for you to search for them,Allah sayas (what it means):): All�h burdens not a person beyond his scope .2/186.

No,you do not have any obligations to maintain ties with them or anything like that,especially if they are not happy with you Islam and they are hurting you because of that.

Allah Knows best.
Assalaam Alikom

moustafa morsy