Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who has adopted a child? May Allah reward you with all goodness.
Adoption was known in the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah), then Islam prohibited it, based on the Almighty's saying: ﴿Call them by their fathers' names﴾ [Al-Ahzab: 5], and based on the Prophet's (PBUH) saying: «He who attributes himself to other than his father, or pledges allegiance to other than his masters, upon him be the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people.» The prayer behind someone who has adopted a child is valid, as long as he does not deny the prohibition of adoption; in which case, he commits an act of disbelief. It is necessary to advise someone who has adopted a child to rid himself of this sin. If he insists, efforts should be made to remove him from imamate, unless doing so leads to discord. Caring for orphans is one of the greatest acts of proximity to Allah.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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