He found a baby and adopted him – what is the ruling?
Question My father found a baby at the top of a mountain and saved his life. My mother looked after him and her breasts started producing milk without her having a child of her own, so she breastfed him for two years. The child grew up and was brought up with us, and my father…
Question
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
Your father and mother are to be thanked for
what they did, taking care of this foundling until he grew up.
Secondly:
Radaa’ah or the
breastfeeding that makes the child a mahram means giving five or more feedings within the first two years of the child’s life. If your mother
breastfed this child in this manner, then he becomes a son for her and her husband through breastfeeding, and he becomes a brother to all their
children through breastfeeding. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Forbidden to you (for marriage) are: your
mothers, your daughters… your foster milk suckling sisters”
[al-Nisa’ 4:23]
“The mothers shall give suck to their
children for two whole years, (that is) for those (parents) who desire to complete the term of suckling”
[al-Baqarah 2:233]
And it was proven that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Relations through radaa’ah (breastfeeding) makes all those things unlawful which are unlawful
through corresponding birth (blood) relations (i.e., prohibited marriages).” Narrated by Maalik, 2/601; a similar version was narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 3/149; Muslim, 2/1086. And it was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “One of the things that was revealed
in the Qur’aan was that ten recognized breastfeedings makes all those things unlawful which are unlawful through corresponding birth (blood)
relations, then that was abrogated and replaced with a verse that mentioned five, and the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) passed away when that was the ruling.” Narrated by Maalik, 2/608; Muslim, 2/1075
It should be noted that what is considered to
be one breastfeeding is when the child takes hold of the nipple and sucks milk from it; if he lets go, then comes back and sucks more milk, this
is a second breastfeeding, and so on.
Thirdly:
It is not permissible for the child mentioned
to take your father’s name as if he is one of his sons.
Fourthly:
The child mentioned cannot inherit from your
father, because he is not one of his heirs.
Fifthly:
If it is proven that your father left one-third or less of his estate to the child mentioned,
there is nothing wrong with that; you may also keep in touch with him and treat him kindly, for Allaah will never cause the reward of those who do
good to be lost.
And Allaah is the Source of strength.
