Orphans and Adoption in the Quran: An Ethical Revolution

Adoptees have increasingly been speaking out about unjust adoption practices and adoption trauma. Social media has been instrumental to getting these stories out and pushing back against years of pain caused by unethical adoption practices. The Quran, believed by Muslims to be revealed by God to the Prophet Muhammad—himself and orphan—in 7th century Arabia—preempts some of these concerns. This paper argues that the Quran contains an ethically revolutionary way of thinking about orphanhood and adoption, emphasizing not only the necessity of good treatment of the vulnerable, but also the importance of preserving their family names and identities--a major concern of adoptees today. In this way, it is a useful resource to consider ethical advancement in the way adoptees are treated in society, ideally contributing to a way forward in dismantling the for-profit adoption industry.