What is Kafala?

Learn the differences between Adoption and Kafala.

Adoption is the formal, permanent transfer of parental rights to a family other than a child’s own and the formal assumption by that family of all parenting duties for the child. In some Islamic countries; including Egypt, the term ‘Kafala’ of Islamic law is used to describe a situation similar to adoption, but not necessarily with the transference of inheritance rights, or the change of the child’s full name.

Despite Kafala being strongly encouraged in Islam there have been a misleading CULTURAL perception about its true meaning, practice, and significance. As a result, our innocent children have been under institutionalized care of orphanages rather than being granted a warm family life and home. We created this page to restore back the authentic meaning of Kafala in Islam that was taught by our beloved prophet.

عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ في الْجَنَّةِ هكَذَا، وَأَشَارَ بِالسَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسطَى وَفَرَّجَ بَيْنَهُمَا شَيْئاً.

From Sahl bin Sa’ad (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallamsaid: “I and the one who looks after an orphan will be like this in Paradise,” showing his middle and index fingers and separating them.” [Sahih al-Bukhari] This great hadith indicates the magnitude and virtue of the person sponsoring orphans, so that Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullaah puts it in the chapter: The Virtue of the People Who Care for the Orphans.

Some of the essential phrases contained in this hadith are:

There are several points to consider in terms of sponsoring the orphans, which is often the case of “adopted children”, due to some Muslims’ misunderstanding of the rulings of Islamic law. Among them are:

[Copied from as-Sunnah magazine (published in Indonesia), 11th Edition / Year XV / Rabi’ul Akhir 1433 AH / 2012. Publisher: Lajnah Istiqomah Foundation Surakarta, Solo-Purwodadi Street km. 8, Selokaton, Gondangrejo, Solo – 57183.]

Footnote:

Source: https://almanhaj.or.id/3364-keutamaan-menyantuni-anak-yatim.html

References:

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