A woman being alone and living with her adoptive father

Q 1: I am a twenty one year old girl. I was born during the war, that is to say in the sixties. I lost my parents in this war just as many children did. They gathered us one day and took us to an orphanage in Amman, where I lived there for at least a month. Afterwards, a Jordanian family adopted me because the husband and his wife did not have children, and I lived with them as their daughter. They never made me feel that I was in need for anything; moreover, they raised me in guidance, Al-Hamdullilah Rabb -il-`Alamin (Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds). I learned from my colleagues at school that I was an orphan. At the beginning, I did not worry about this for my adoptive-mother was with me, but now after she died, I am alone with my adoptive father, who is a very good man Al-Hamdullilah, but he is not a Mahram (a spouse or an unmarriageable relative) for me. I wear concealing clothes in front of him, but I do not wear the scarf. I lived for a while at my adoptive-mother's family house, that is the house of my adoptive-grandfather, but I did not feel that I was comfortable there, therefore, I returned back to my father to nurse him, as he was sick and suffers from many diseases. Is my living with him Haram (prohibited)? Is uncovering my hair in front of him Haram? Please answer me.


A: Adoption does not make you the daughter of those who raised you as was the case in the time of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance), but it (adoption) only intends to act kindly towards orphans, raise them, take care of their affairs until they grow up, become mature, and are able to depend on themselves in their living and take care of their own business. Therefore, we (Part No. 20; Page No. 361) hope that Allah would reward whoever has done this for you, but he is not a father or a Mahram to you; thus, you must be covered up in front of him the way you do in front of any non-Mahram. However, you should return his kindness with kindness, but you have to wear Hijab (veil) and avoid being alone with him. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


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