In a society like ours where parenting is considered a divine blessing and social milestone, childlessness often carries emotional and cultural burdens. Meanwhile, long millions of orphaned children across the country for a family, a home and a chance for life. What if these two unmet needs could meet each other?
Adoption is not just an act of compassion; It’s a response to two silent beans. It brings emotional peace to couples who are unable to have children and provides love, security and opportunity for children who have lost everything. In a nation that struggles with social inequality, displacement and orphanage, promoting adoption can promote both culturally and religiously a transformative strength.
I have seen many couples in our society who remain childless, even after years of marriage. Despite being economically strong, emotionally mature and socially well -off, they continue to wait for their “own” child and turn to expensive medical treatments or spiritual solutions while rarely considering adoption.
I remember in my time in Karachi, I knew at least seven to eight such couples who had been married for over six to seven years and still did not have children. They were loving, talented people who had everything needed to raise a child except a shift in mindset. They could have changed a child’s life and perhaps their own, simply by opening their hearts for adoption.
I also remember my time as a school teacher, where I often interacted with colleagues and parents during meetings and school events. Even there I came across couples who did not have children and often talked about their longing to become parents. Looking at the growing number of orphaned children in Pakistan, I often wondered silently: Why don’t they adopt? Why can’t these loving people open their homes to children who have no one?
In Pakistan, an estimated 15 to 20 percent of the married couples are unable to have children, according to national health data. This means that one in every fifth to six pairs of silently struggles with infertility. Yet a few consider adoption as a solution.
About a year ago I met a couple from Nawabshah, Sindh, whose story completely changed my perspective on the adoption. They were not highly educated, but the decision they made was deeply wise and compassionate. After several years of trial and waiting for a child, they chose to adopt a baby girl. Despite coming from a modest background, they raised her with unconditional love, ensured that she received proper schooling and gave her everything a child deserves in terms of care, love and dignity.
In a miraculous way, a few years later, they were of course also blessed with biological children. Their adopted daughter grew up with joy, surrounded by siblings, thrives in a household where she was never treated differently. One decision not only transformed its life, it brought emotional and spiritual fulfillment to the whole family. It was a strong reminder that you do not need a high degree to make a trained decision; You just need a friendly heart.
This story proved to me that adoption does not block blessings; It multiplies them.
A forgotten generation
According to the UN, there are more than 4.6 million orphaned children in Pakistan, and mostly they are under 17. This significant part of our population suffers from social deprivation, lacks not only parental love, but also access to fundamental rights such as education, healthcare, security and emotional support. Their condition reflects a crisis to be addressed on an urgent and national scale.
The vulnerability does not end there. A shocking 3.3 million children in Pakistan deal with child labor, many of whom are orphans or come from broken and not -supported homes. These children are forced into housework, begging, factory work or even dangerous jobs that deprive them of their health and their future. Without education or stability, their dreams are crushed before they even begin to grow.
Many of these children have lost their families due to poverty, terrorism, illness or natural disasters such as flooding and earthquakes. Without parental care and protection, they often end up in crowded orphanages or on the streets where they face neglect, exploitation and abuse.
Natural disasters have worsened this problem. The Kashmir earthquake in 2005 left thousands of children orphans overnight. In the midst of this heartache, a story still inspires many-well-known singer Hadiqa Kiani adopted a baby boy, Naad-E-Ali, from the affected area. She gave him a home, an identity and a future.
Her action is still a luminous example of motherhood not defined at birth, but by love.
These are not just numbers. These are life; Young souls with untapped potential and waiting for someone to care. By opening our hearts and homes we can rewrite their stories.
Islam and adoption
Unlike cultural hesitation, Islam does not prohibit adoption. In fact, it encourages care of orphans in powerful and explicit conditions. While religion maintains the child’s lineage and identity (NASAB), the believer encourages to take full responsibility for orphans and give them love, protection and nourishment.
The Qur’an says: “They ask you about orphans. Say: Improvement for them is best.”
(Surah al-Baqarah, 2: 220)
“And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan [saying]And ‘we only feed you to the face of Allah. We do not want from your reward or gratitude. ” ”
(Surah Al-Insan, 76: 8-9)
Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) himself was an orphan. His love for orphans is deeply invested in Islamic teaching. He said:
“I and the one who cares about an orphan will be together in paradise like this,”
And he indicated his two fingers together to illustrate closeness. (Sahih Bukhari)
This hadith alone should be enough to motivate Muslim couples to consider caring for an orphan. Adoption in the Islamic framework of Kafalah (guardianship) allows a child to maintain their name and identity while raising with love and dignity in a stable home.
When a child is adopted in a stable, loving home, they gain access to education, healthcare, emotional support and social security. The child is no longer lost in a system and now has a real chance of breaking out of the cycle of poverty and trauma.
From Street Shelter children to CEOs, success stories begin with the opportunity. When childless couples adopt, they not only fulfill their own dream of custody, but they also give a child a gift from a new life. This child can grow up to become a doctor, teacher, manager or change producer. But more than anything else, that child is loved.
Furthermore, the couple gets emotional fulfillment, camaraderie in old age and a deeper sense of purpose. Adoption transforms a tender silence into laughter -filled rooms. It transforms life on both sides.
The cultural silence
Despite religious encouragement and emotional needs, adoption is still taboo in many parts of Pakistani society. Some families fear societal judgment, some care about inheritance and the purity of bloodline, and others simply hesitate because it is not “the norm.” But we must break this silence.
Let us remind ourselves and our society that Islam encourages the care of orphans and modern legal systems in Pakistan already allows adoption under the right of guardianship. It is possible to adopt while retaining the child’s descent and adhering to religious values.
We need bold voices, including scholars, teachers, celebrities and religious leaders, to talk openly about adoption and its blessings. We need media campaigns showing successful adoptive families. We need government policies that facilitate legal barriers and provide support after adoption.
A social and national responsibility
Adoption is not just a private matter; It is a national social responsibility. With thousands of orphans who grow up without care, the consequences for society are serious. These children, if not supported, are vulnerable to child labor, substance abuse, trade, extremism and chronic poverty.
By encouraging adoption, we invest in human potential. Every child deserves a family and every family has the power to change a child’s life. Adoption not only reduces the state burden of orphanages and shelters, but also strengthens the nation’s social substance.
Let’s change the narrative: Each adoptive child is not a burden taken in but a blessing brought home.
Pakistan stands at a crossroads. On the one hand are millions of orphans who live without love; On the other hand, thousands of childless couples who live without joy in parents. Between them stands a cultural wall that only we can tear down with empathy, education and courage.
We must learn from the examples around us. From the couple I met who adopted and were later blessed with biological children, to public persons like Hadiqa Kiani, who showed the nation what motherhood really means.
Let’s answer our Faith’s Call:
“Don’t suppress the orphan.” (Surah ad-duhaa, 93: 9)
Let’s not fear what society will say, but rather ask ourselves: What will Allah say?
For every childless couple who longs for a child, and to any orphaned child longing for a parent, the answer can be found in each other. Let’s open our home. Let’s open our hearts. Let’s create families not only by blood, but of love, faith and choice.
Because sometimes the most beautiful families are not born, they are made.
Rabia Khan is a teacher and freelance contributor
All facts and information is the author’s sole responsibility
