[lovingmomhappykids]

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to talk about my faith.

First let me be clear I am not a scholar. I am just a practicing Muslim. So that said you have asked a pretty difficult question. But that said I will do my best to explain the conplexities of the issue. Two sisters in our community are currently facing these issues. The first is a foster parent who is working on adopting an abandoned baby. Another has adopted from overseas.

First you have to understand that In Islam there is a common understanding that all babies are born in a state of submission to God. It is the parents and communities that confuse children on the nature of God. Also Islam recognizes the previous prophets such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, David ect. And that each prophet brought the same message time and time again. That God is one, and that we should only worship the One God. Over years and misunderstandings people began to corrupt Gods. message so Mohammed was sent to remind people of the true message. So Islamicly Islam is a continuation of all the Abrahamic faiths not "in conflict with it" as many people believe.

For every Muslim it is there responsibility to pass that message on to others. Especially the charges in there care. Weather those children were biological or "adopted" we have to raise them according to the message of Islam(submission to God)

But part of Islam is a very strong responsibility to respect, keep contact, and provide service to our parents. To Muslims respecting Parents is VERY important. We are commanded to respect our parents(Muslim or not) in all things unless it is against Islam.

So the simple answer would be this. The preference would be that we "adopt" a muslim child. As lslamicly it is always better for a child to stay with someone from there family or close community. But if there was a child in need of care and there was no family available of course we can care for that child. As long as we make every effort to provide them contact with there biological family.

It is my understanding that we would have to respect the parents right to teach the child the parents faith. And the childs right to practice it. But at the same time we would have to teach them about Islam. And encourage them to practice Islam at our home.

Most Muslims would rather start out seeking a Muslim child to adopt, especially if they have children of their own. Mixed messages can be very confusing for a child. And though most Muslims encourage interfaith dialoge. There is something very different about two families you deeply love telling you you should believe two different things. Not only would it be confusing for the adoptive child but it could also effect your biological children.

Of the two people I know, One chose to adopt a Muslim baby. The other is adopting an abandoned baby who was abandoned under the laws that say you can abandon a child at a hospital no questions asked.(she has fostered this baby from about 4 days old) Because the parents are unknown there is no way to keep contact.

I hope this helps. What ever errors I have made are from me. Anything good is by the grace of Allah(SWT)