Question: Do Islamic sisters have to observe veil with men who they affectionately refer to as ‘father’, ‘brother’, or ‘son’?
Answer: Yes! They must observe veil with these men too. Calling someone father, brother or son will not make him the real father, brother or son. It is permissible to marry these men. Such relationships are common in our society. Some men refer to certain women as ‘mothers’, whereas some girls refer to certain men as ‘brothers’, whilst some women refer to men as ‘sons’, and there are also so-called ‘uncles’, and ‘fathers’; this has resulted in a sin-storm of unveiling, informal relationships and mixed gatherings. ‘اَلۡاَمَان وَالۡحَفِيۡظ’ May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ save and protect us.
Men and women who establish such ‘so-called relationships’ should always fear Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. The devil does not warn before attacking. A sacred Ḥadīš states: Avoid the world and women, because the first instance of Fitnaĥ [turmoil] that arose in the Banī Isrāīl was due to women. (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 1465, Ḥadīš 2742)
Question: Is it permissible to adopt a child?
Answer: Yes, but if he is a non-Maḥram then the woman should observe veil with him once he begins to understand female ‘issues’. The respected jurists رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی say: The age of a ‘Murāĥiq’ (boy close to puberty) is 12. (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, vol. 4, pp.118)
Question: Is it permissible to adopt a girl? Must she observe veil with her foster father when she is older?