Best Ways To Find A Muslim Adoption Centre Near Me

What Is A Muslim Adoption Centre?

Muslim adoption centres or adoption centres, in general, are when an individual takes full responsibility for a child through legal means. The adoption centre is a place where the conduction of such matters occurs.

According to American Adoptions, although adoption centres are not licensed entities, they are organisations that licensed attorneys retain. An adoption centre must meet legal requirements to get the adoption successfully settled.

So, who are capable of being adoptive parents? An adoptive parent could range from a single parent, an unmarried person, people who are in a civil partnership, parents who already have children, parents who do not have a child and in some cases can not conceive one, people of proper age range and income etc.

Rules To Adopt Children
A few of the rules to keep in mind when adopting children in the UK are that-

The child must be under 18 years of age when the adoption application is made
Not be or have not been married or in a civil partnership
The birth parents of the child have to give their consent
And if they are unable to give consent, they are supposedly mentally unstable or cannot be found
If the parents are unable to be found, the child has risks to face if they are not adopted
Someone does not have to be a British citizen to adopt a child, however, the couple have to have a permanent home in the UK
Another one is that the couple must have lived in the UK for at least a year

To Further Explaining A Muslim Adoption Centre?

A Muslim adoption centre would refer to the fact that the adoption centre is run and conducted by Islamic regulations and rules. And that the Management is run by Muslim people.

The autobiography of a fellow Muslim has disclosed how the adoption of a child has no Shariah effect on it. A Muslim individual can adopt children for their emotional and psychological satisfaction. And that adoption of a child to provide them food and shelter would be rewarded in the afterlife. The data compiled also added that Allah has forbidden robbing a child of their identity including that it is not permitted to change their names and to hide their truth. In the Quran, it is referred to as ‘Tabanniy’.

Collected from Islamic Sources, our prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had an adopted son named Zayd; shortly before obtaining his first revelation. The adopted son has also been mentioned in the Quran. Proving that adoption is accepted in Islam. Another article mentioned, that although adoption is forbidden; prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had Zayd for 15 years before he was martyred. To make it clear, the source mentioned that the adoption could be done under certain rules.

Which makes adoption and fostering encouraged in Islam. Islam motivates children who are not genetically related to Muslims to be adopted by them. And for orphans, it is highly inspired to embrace them and foster them.

Advantages Of Adoption Centres In Islam

In the case of Islam, adoption is taken as a serious matter. The act of adoption is regarded with great significance, prioritising care for orphans and vulnerable children. Although it is complicated, the act is centred around the child’s comfort and well-being. A few of the advantages have been shared down below:

Providing Care For Orphan And Vulnerable Children-

Because Islam places a strong emphasis on orphan and vulnerable children, it is ensured that the children are provided with great care and a comfortable enough environment to dwell in for as long as they can.

Carrying Out Religious Duty-

Islam enlightens Muslims about the importance of taking care of those who are in need in the verses of the Quran and Hadith, Muslim individuals pay most of their attention to carrying out this religious duty of making donations and supporting the adoption centres.

Assisting Guardianship-

There is this concept called Kafala which means guardianship in Islam. This concept allows individuals and couples to take legal responsibility for vulnerable children, especially orphaned or abandoned ones, without severing any ties from the biological parents as a rule.

Preserving Lineage And Identity Of The Children-

As mentioned about this fact before, Islam is strictly against the fact that the child has to go through total modification of their previous identity, including severing ties with the biological parents. Adoption centres run by the Islamic rules preserve the identity and provide protection to the lineage information.

Disadvantages Of Adoption Centres In Islam

On one hand adoption centres in Islam are concerned about the safety and comfort of vulnerable Muslim children, but there are also potential disadvantages and challenges faced:

Lineage And Inheritance Of The Children-

Islamic law is undoubtedly against the erasure of lineage and inheritance of a Muslim Child from its parents when it comes to adoption. Simply put, the adopted child does not inherit the adopted parents’ lineage. Which translates to facing trouble and difficulties when it comes to legal and social complexities relating to inheritance rights and familial relationships.

Legal And Administrative Processes-

Adoption requires legal and administrative procedures, which have chances to be time-consuming and expensive. Legal restrictions may hinder the child from wrapping up the adoption process.

Social Stigma-

Some societies and communities do not accept adoption. Mostly because they find it refuting the social or traditional family structures. This can result in discrimination of the adopted children as well as the family.

Ethical Factors-

The adoption centres must ensure the ethical execution in adoption, which includes preventing trafficking and exploitation of children. The adoption centres must prioritise the best care and comfort of the children and ensure ethical principles throughout the adoption process.

Steps To Follow To Find Muslim Adoption Centres

STEP ONE:

Doing Enough Research- Doing heavy research on the Muslim adoption centres around the area. Going through online search engines; such as Google, Yahoo and Bing the major search engines of this generation where people can find results on literally any topic most of the time. One just has to put a fitting keyword and search up to meet with the required result. Directories, and enquiring local mosques and communities to try to find the topics one is looking for are also a few of the most effective ways Muslim folks can find their desired Muslim adoption centres.

STEP TWO:

Consulting Adoption Centres Around- The adoption centres that are scattered around the area might have knowledge of the Muslim adoption centres. Thus, checking them out could be another effective way to at least get a step closer to finding Muslim adoption centres. And if one is lucky enough they might also get their hands on the information about the location of the Muslim adoption centres.

STEP THREE:

Recommendations From Close Associations- Inquiring friends, family, relatives and neighbours if they are acquainted with the Muslim adoption centres near the area. Or providing information on the centres around their own area that have any information on the adoption centres around your area.

STEP FOUR:

Online Resources- Exploring online resources, forums, social media groups, even including social media apps in general to search with specific keywords and hashtags in order to find any suitable Muslim adoption centres. Chances are, that there might be results that will be beneficial enough.

Statistics On The Muslim Adoption Centre

According to the data collected from Adoption Matters, It is said that about 2410 children are waiting to be collected as an adopted child and 67% of children are under 6 weeks old.

According to the information collected, there are no Muslim adoption centres in the United States. Research shows, that there are over 4500 Muslim children that are in the foster care system every year, however. Report from Coventry University. A wide majority are not adopted in Muslim families, which indicates that the families wouldn’t be able to follow and assist with the Islamic regulations a Muslim individual is supposed to follow, unfortunately.

On the other hand, further information provided by the London Central Mosque and Culture Centre was able to find about four licensed foster carers for 44 Muslim children.

To Wrap It Up

Both Quran and Sunnah or Hadith suggest to take care of the orphans. And to take care of them we are supposed to adopt the children; but of course, while keeping the Islamic rules and regulations in check.

According to a Hadith, Our Prophet stated,

“I am the guardian of an orphan, and will be like these two”

In the same Hadith Abu Hurayrah stated, which was reported by the Prophet,

“The best house among, Muslims is the house in which orphans are well treated. The worst house among, Muslims is the house in which orphans are ill-treated” – (Adab Al-Mufrad 137)

This indicates that Muslims should be encouraged to adopt Muslim children. Muslim adoption centres should be established to alleviate the pressure on Muslim individuals when it comes to trying to find Muslim children and to encourage them to adopt.