VisualDhikr|

Adoption (Tabanni)

View in graph
concept

Adoption (Tabanni)

التبني

*Tabanni*, or legal sonship, refers to the practice of formally adopting a child and designating them as one's biological son, granting them full lineage rights, including the adoptive father's name. Before Islam, this was common in Arab society, as illustrated by Pharaoh's wife suggesting to [adopt him as a son] regarding Prophet Musa. However, the Quran clarified this practice, distinguishing it from the profound bond of biological parentage. Allah states clearly, [He has not made your adopted sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allah says the truth, and He guides to the [right] way]. This divine guidance mandates that children should be [Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah], emphasizing the importance of preserving true lineage. If a child's biological father is unknown, they are still considered [your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you]. This distinction was further underscored by the marriage of Prophet Muhammad to Zaynab, the divorced wife of Zayd, who was formerly known as "Zayd ibn Muhammad." This act, divinely ordained, removed any ambiguity concerning the wives of adopted sons, ensuring [that there not be upon the believers any discomfort concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them]. While *tabanni* as legal sonship is not recognized, Islam profoundly encourages fostering, guardianship, and benevolent care for orphaned and needy children, seeing it as a great act of charity and worship, without altering their true ancestry.

Quran 5 verses

وَقَالَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُ فِرْعَوْنَ قُرَّتُ عَيْنٍ لِّى وَلَكَ لَا تَقْتُلُوهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدًا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

Wa qaalatim ra atu Fir'awna qurratu 'aynil lee wa lak; laa taqtuloohu 'asaaa aiyanfa'anaa aw nattakhizahoo waladanw wa hum laa yash'uroon

And the wife of Pharaoh said, "[He will be] a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son." And they perceived not.

اور فرعون کی بیوی نے کہا کہ (یہ) میری اور تمہاری (دونوں کی) آنکھوں کی ٹھنڈک ہے اس کو قتل نہ کرنا۔ شاید یہ ہمیں فائدہ پہنچائے یا ہم اُسے بیٹا بنالیں اور وہ انجام سے بےخبر تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ (28:7) The word Wahy (inspiration) is used here in its literal meaning. It does not mean the Wahy that is peculiar to prophets. This point has already been explained under Surah Taha.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And Pharaoh’s wife said after he and his aids had resolved to slay him he is ‘A joyous sight for me and you. Do not slay him. Perhaps he will be of benefit to us or we will adopt him as a son’ and so they obeyed her wish. And they were not aware of the sequel to their affair with him.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): How Musa's Mother was inspired and shown what to do It was mentioned that when Fir`awn killed so many of the males of the Children of Israel, the Copts were scared that the Children of Israel would die out, and they themselves would have to do the heavy labor that the Children of Israel used to do. ...

مَّا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِرَجُلٍ مِّن قَلْبَيْنِ فِى جَوْفِهِۦ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَزْوَٰجَكُمُ ٱلَّٰٓـِٔى تُظَٰهِرُونَ مِنْهُنَّ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَدْعِيَآءَكُمْ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ قَوْلُكُم بِأَفْوَٰهِكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَقُولُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَهُوَ يَهْدِى ٱلسَّبِيلَ

Maa ja'alal laahu lirajulim min qalbaini fee jawfih; wa maa ja'ala azwaajakumul laaa'ee tuzaahiroona minhunna ummahaatikum; wa maa ja'ala ad'iyaaa'akum abnaaa'akum; zaalikum qawlukum bi afwaa hikum wallaahu yaqoolul haqqa wa Huwa yahdis sabeel

Allah has not made for a man two hearts in his interior. And He has not made your wives whom you declare unlawful your mothers. And he has not made your adopted sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allah says the truth, and He guides to the [right] way.

خدا نے کسی آدمی کے پہلو میں دو دل نہیں بنائے۔ اور نہ تمہاری عورتوں کو جن کو تم ماں کہہ بیٹھتے ہو تمہاری ماں بنایا اور نہ تمہارے لے پالکوں کو تمہارے بیٹے بنایا۔ یہ سب تمہارے منہ کی باتیں ہیں۔ اور خدا تو سچی بات فرماتا ہے اور وہی سیدھا رستہ دکھاتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Previous verses carried instructions to the Holy Prophet ﷺ asking him not to act upon their advice and not to be cajoled into what they wanted to achieve. In the cited verses, there is a refutation of three customs prevailing among disbelievers as well as of their false notions. (1) Durin...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: God has not placed two hearts inside any man this was revealed in order to refute those disbelievers who said that they each had two hearts with which they could reason better than Muhammad’s single mind; nor has He made your wives whom read as allā’ī or allā’ you repudiate by zihār read tazzahharūn...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Abolition of Adoption Before Allah discusses ideas and theoretical matters, He gives tangible examples: one man cannot have two hearts in his body, and a man's wife does not become his mother if he says the words of Zihar to her: "You are to me like the back of my mother." By the same token, an adop...

ٱدْعُوهُمْ لِـَٔابَآئِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ فَإِن لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ ءَابَآءَهُمْ فَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَمَوَٰلِيكُمْ وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَآ أَخْطَأْتُم بِهِۦ وَلَٰكِن مَّا تَعَمَّدَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

Ud'oohum li aabaaa'ihim huwa aqsatu 'indal laah; fa illam ta'lamooo aabaaa'ahum fa ikhwaanukum fid deeni wa mawaaleekum; wa laisa 'alaikum junaahun feemaaa akhtaatum bihee wa laakim maa ta'ammadat quloobukum; wa kaanal laahu Ghafoorar Raheemaa

Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you do not know their fathers - then they are [still] your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you. And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.

مومنو! لےپالکوں کو اُن کے (اصلی) باپوں کے نام سے پکارا کرو۔ کہ خدا کے نزدیک یہی بات درست ہے۔ اگر تم کو اُن کے باپوں کے نام معلوم نہ ہوں تو دین میں وہ تمہارے بھائی اور دوست ہیں اور جو بات تم سے غلطی سے ہوگئی ہو اس میں تم پر کچھ گناہ نہیں۔ لیکن جو قصد دلی سے کرو (اس پر مواخذہ ہے) اور خدا بخشنے والا مہربان ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Previous verses carried instructions to the Holy Prophet ﷺ asking him not to act upon their advice and not to be cajoled into what they wanted to achieve. In the cited verses, there is a refutation of three customs prevailing among disbelievers as well as of their false notions. (1) Durin...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Instead attribute them to their true fathers. That is more equitable that is more just in the sight of God. If you do not know their true fathers then they are your brethren in religion and as your associates. And you would not be at fault for any mistake you make in this respect except in what your...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Abolition of Adoption Before Allah discusses ideas and theoretical matters, He gives tangible examples: one man cannot have two hearts in his body, and a man's wife does not become his mother if he says the words of Zihar to her: "You are to me like the back of my mother." By the same token, an adop...

وَإِذْ تَقُولُ لِلَّذِىٓ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَتُخْفِى فِى نَفْسِكَ مَا ٱللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى ٱلنَّاسَ وَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَىٰهُ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ زَيْدٌ مِّنْهَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجْنَٰكَهَا لِكَىْ لَا يَكُونَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَرَجٌ فِىٓ أَزْوَٰجِ أَدْعِيَآئِهِمْ إِذَا قَضَوْا۟ مِنْهُنَّ وَطَرًا وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا

Wa iz taqoolu lillazeee an'amal laahu 'alaihi wa an'amta 'alaihi amsik 'alaika zawjaka wattaqil laaha wa tukhfee fee nafsika mal laahu mubdeehi wa takhshan naasa wallaahu ahaqqu an takhshaah; falammaa qadaa Zaidum minhaa wataran zawwajnaa kahaa likay laa yakoona 'alal mu'mineena harajun feee azwaaji ad'iyaaa'ihim izaa qadaw minhunna wataraa; wa kaana amrul laahi af'oolaa

And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, "Keep your wife and fear Allah," while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him. So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them. And ever is the command of Allah accomplished.

اور جب تم اس شخص سے جس پر خدا نے احسان کیا اور تم نے بھی احسان کیا (یہ) کہتے تھے کہ اپنی بیوی کو اپنے پاس رہنے دے اور خدا سے ڈر اور تم اپنے دل میں وہ بات پوشیدہ کرتے تھے جس کو خدا ظاہر کرنے والا تھا اور تم لوگوں سے ڈرتے تھے۔ حالانکہ خدا ہی اس کا زیادہ مستحق ہے کہ اس سے ڈرو۔ پھر جب زید نے اس سے (کوئی) حاجت (متعلق) نہ رکھی (یعنی اس کو طلاق دے دی) تو ہم نے تم سے اس کا نکاح کردیا تاکہ مومنوں کے لئے ان کے منہ بولے بیٹوں کی بیویوں (کے ساتھ نکاح کرنے کے بارے) میں جب وہ ان سے اپنی حاجت (متعلق) نہ رکھیں (یعنی طلاق دے دیں) کچھ تنگی نہ رہے۔ اور خدا کا حکم واقع ہو کر رہنے والا تھا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The Second Event As ordered by the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، the marriage of Sayyidah Zainab bint Jahsh ؓ ' was solemnized with Sayyidna Zayd Ibn Harithah ؓ . But, their temperaments did not match and merge with each other. Sayyidna Zayd used to complain about the sharpness of her tongue, the airs she assume...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And when idh is dependent because of an implied preceding udhkur ‘mention when’ you said to him to whom God had shown favour by guiding him to Islam and to whom you too had shown favour by manumitting him — this was Zayd b. Hāritha who had been a prisoner of war before the coming of Islam in the per...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah's rebuke to His Messenger and the Story of Zayd and Zaynab Allah tells what His Prophet said to his freed slave Zayd bin Harithah, may Allah be pleased with him, who was the one on whom Allah had bestowed grace, i.e., through Islam and following the Messenger . وَأَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ (and you h...

مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًا

Maa kaana Muhammmadun abaaa ahadim mir rijaalikum wa laakir Rasoolal laahi wa Khaataman Nabiyyeen; wa kaanal laahu bikulli shai'in 'Aleema

Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing.

محمدﷺ تمہارے مردوں میں سے کسی کے والد نہیں ہیں بلکہ خدا کے پیغمبر اور نبیوں (کی نبوت) کی مہر (یعنی اس کو ختم کردینے والے) ہیں اور خدا ہر چیز سے واقف ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary The verse quoted above refutes the contention of those people who, in accordance with the custom of the days of ignorance, used to call Sayyidna Zayd Ibn Harithah رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ as son of the Messenger of Allah and used to taunt at the nikah (marriage) of the Holy Prophet ﷺ with Sayy...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Muhammad is not the father of any man among you he is not Zayd’s biological father and so it is not unlawful for him to marry his former wife Zaynab after him; but he is the Messenger of God and the Seal of the Prophets and so he will not have a son that is a fully grown man to be a prophet after hi...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Praise for Those Who convey the Message Allah says: الَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَالـتِ اللَّهِ (Those who convey the Message of Allah) meaning, to His creation, and fulfil that with which they have been entrusted. وَيَخْشَوْنَهُ (and fear Him,) means, they fear Him and they do not fear any besides Him...

A detailed scholarly analysis for this topic is not yet available. Get in touch to request one.

Related Topics