Muhammad (PBUH): Fostered and Fostering
Foster Care In The Life Of Our Prophet
Care for neglected and orphaned children is a well known islamic practice. Orphans are mentioned 23 times in the Quran itself, and the examples of assistance and foster care from the Prophet, his family, and his companions (peace be upon them all) are endless. In fact, the first and greatest example of care in this way would be the experience of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the role his family played in aiding him as an orphan child.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had lost both his father and his mother by the age of 6. He was immediately taken in by his grandfather, and after his passing, by his uncle Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him). The care, love and support of his family at an early age solidified his Islamic mission during his life; they were an instrumental part of Allah (swt)’s plan for his journey.
Beyond his own experience, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) encouraged others to do the same as his uncle did for him. During a famine and drought in Makkah, Abu Talib was financially struggling to support the large number of people under his care. The Prophet (pbuh) reached out to his other uncle, Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked him to help relieve Abu Talib of some of the burden. After consulting Abu Talib, it was decided that Abbas and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would each take on the responsibility of one child. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) took in Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). His foster care with unconditional love and guidance resulted in the emergence of the greatest brotherhood witnessed.
It’s important to note that within the lifetime of the prophet (pbuh), we see the need and encouragement of care for not only children who have lost parent(s), but also for the children whose parents are alive yet struggling to provide the best for their families. Additionally, we also see the positive outcomes from both types of assistance and the significant impact it has made on history itself.
The Role Of Our Community Today
The Holy Qur’an says, “Believers are each other’s brothers/sisters. Restore peace among your brothers/sisters. Have fear of God so that perhaps you will receive mercy.” (49:10)
Community is the conclusion. Exemplifying the immense importance of community through his first act in Medina, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) launched the creation of a community centre, the masjid. It belonged to everyone, and everyone was able to benefit from it. It was a safe haven, a home of serenity, and a place of family through faith - what we strive to provide at Sakeenah.
Brotherhood, community, and society are all given the responsibility of each other’s well being. Islam dignifies the status of the neglected, the oppressed, the abandoned, and the orphaned, for a reason. And it is up to us to carry out our obligation as a community to uphold their human rights amongst us.
From actions as simple as spreading awareness on social media, giving sadaqah, asking questions, taking interest in fostering , finding gaps in our current system, helping us help others - YOU can be the mercy and sukoon for someone who needs it. You can be the start of an incredible outcome for our community, the same way we witnessed in the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
What’s Next?
Sakeenah is the first Muslim Foster Care Agency in Canada. Join our cause and learn more at our Information Session taking place on August 17th.
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Written By Saima Zaidi - Social Media & Content Coordinator at Sakeenah Canada. I love to write and create content that prompts deep thinking. My beige flag is that I eat pizza backwards, crust first.
About Sakeenah
Sakeenah, a national charitable organization, was founded in 2018 in response to a gap for culturally and religiously sensitive services for women and children facing domestic violence and homelessness. Since then, our services have expanded to include mental health therapy and counseling. Sakeenah has also started The People’s Market, a food program that helps combat food insecurity and most recently, Sakeenah became the first licensed foster care agency for Muslim children in all of North America. We currently operate 7 transitional homes across Canada: Toronto, Brampton, Milton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, and Winnipeg.
For inquiries, please contact:
Afiyah Mohammed
Marketing Manager
P: 1-888-671-3446 Ext. 128
