Adopted nephew: Do I have to cover in front of him?
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Question
My brother adopted his wife's son, who is now 16. Do I have to cover in front of him?Answer
Al-Salam `Alaykum
Adopted children remain the children of their true parents. Hence a legal father-son relationship between your brother and his adopted son is not established in the Shari`a.
Thus the boy remains a stranger to you and it is necessary for you to observe hijab in front of him.
The Qur'an states:
And He (Allah Ta`ala) has not made your adopted sons your (real) sons ...
Call them in accordance with their (true) fathers' names ... This is most just according to Allah. If you don’t not know their fathers then they are your brothers in religion. Sura 33 al-Ahzab (Verses 4,5)
Abu Usamah
Durban, South Africa
This answer was published by SunniPath and is preserved as written. Rulings can depend on circumstances; for your own situation, consult a qualified scholar.
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