Is it permissible for an adopted young man, whose lineage is unknown, to marry an orphan girl who was fostered by a family and not breastfed by any of its members?
The care and kindness shown by the family towards the girl is a good deed, but it is not permissible for the girl to be attributed to them, due to the saying of the Prophet, peace be upon him: "Whoever claims to be the son of someone other than his father – knowing that he is not his father – Paradise is forbidden for him," and due to Allah's saying: (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 your brothers in religion and your protectors). The prohibition in adoption is the attribution of a foundling to someone other than their father. A foundling girl of unknown lineage is called by a general name, such as Fatima bint Muhammad. As for your marriage to this girl, there is no objection to it, but the girl must appoint the Sharia judge or whoever acts in his place to conduct her marriage contract, due to the saying of the Prophet, peace be upon him: "Any woman who marries without the permission of her guardian, her marriage is invalid."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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