[anilorak13ska]

Thanks for your reply! I know on at least one occasion I have seen a request by an adoption agency or facilitator looking specifically for a Muslim couple to adopt a child. Obviously, the bio mom must have been Muslim and therefore wanted to make sure her child grew up with the faith.

I am a little concerned about one thing, though. Even though I absolutely agree with openness in adoption, I also believe that when bio parents terminate their rights, they terminate their right to "parent" that child. Therefore, the adoptive parents become that child's parents. However, from your descriptions, it really just sounds like the adoptive parents are more like guardians, caretakers, but not parents.

I find this troubling bc I had a friend who had 3 bio children and then adopted an older boy who I believe had been abandoned and was homeless. Every time she referred to him, she called him her "adoptive son". I think this is detrimental to the child, being reminded that he doesn't really belong with this family.

I think there is a difference between honoring one's heritage and that includes biological parents, but one's parents are the ones who raise you, who take care of you, who are there for you no matter what. Whether you are biologically linked to them is secondary in my mind.

I'm not trying to start an argument by any means, btw. I'm just trying to dig a little deeper and see if maybe there's something I'm misunderstanding.

Thanks again for sharing Islam's views on adoption!