Question

I adopted a child of my wife’s brother. I came to Saudi Arabia as an employee with my wife and my adopted child. For this purpose I marked the passport of my adopted child on my name. I admitted my adopted child in a school where all documentation completed with my name. In Pakistan I admitted my adopted child in a school with his real father name. I have completed child adoption process legally by family court in Pakistan. I have complete legal documentation but for going to Saudi Arabia they didn’t accept. All my relatives know this my son is a adopted. My question is can I live with my adopted child in Saudi Arabia with my name or send him to back to Pakistan with my wife. So please give me complete guidance in the light of the Qura’n and Sunnah.

Answer

I believe that since you have no intention to conceal the reality and have done your best in revealing the true parents of the boy you have adopted in Pakistan and since you have been forced to register him in your name by the country of your residence you are not committing a willful sin. If you have been forced by circumstances to adopt this act unwillingly you are not incurring a sin. God Almighty knows the intentions in our heart and He does not burden His servants to what they cannot accomplish. Therefore, in my understanding you are not obliged to take that inconvenience and send the boy back to Pakistan. May Allah help us understand His religion and lead us to the path of His liking.

Answered by: Tariq Mahmood Hashmi

Date: 2014-12-12