Holy Prophet's Kindness to Children — Page 38
38 Did You Know There was a common practice that an adopted son was considered as a real son, and he was entitled to all civil liberties like a real son, while the other close relatives were ignored and their rights were neglected. So Islam drew the line between blood relations and the adopted children, and gave them proper rights what they deserved. Practically to make the difference between the real children and the adopted ones, Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) mar- ried Hadrat Zainab, the divorced wife of Hadrat Zaid, a freed slave and the adopted son of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). This way he established correct sta- tus of an adopted child. Before that it was not allowed to marry the widow or the divorced wife of the adopted son. The Holy Prophet Muhammad, by Maulana M. A. Cheema, see www. alislam. org