Muslim adoption in India
In 1980, India passed a bill that allowed non-Hindus to adopt children (prior to that time, only Hindus could adopt). However, Muslims in that country believed that the Qur’an does not allow adoption. They tried to block the law. I’ve read about this recently in Martha Nussbaum’s Sex and Social Justice. She cites Tariq Mahmood, a professor at the University of Delhi, on this issue. I’ll let it stand without comment since you can probably guess at what major U.S. family-defining issue I think this may be relevant:
"Even if it is accepted that Islamic law prohibits adoption, how can the Muslims prevent enactment of a secular law of adoption which will be applicable only to those who wish to adopt a child? If Islamic law does not permit adoption, the Muslims need not make use of the Indian adoption law. That law will certainly not impose on any person a duty to adopt….If Islam does not recognize a social or economic concept, the state cannot compel every Muslim to keep away from it. If that were possible, our banking laws should not be available to any Muslim, since Islam does prohibit interest on money…"
Incidentally, I highly recommend this book. It’s a defense of classical liberalism, feminism and humanism, providing support for an understanding of humanity that allows for criticism of other cultures without Western condescension. Nussbaum tackles the relativism of postmodern feminism, and its inability to give women true freedom in countries were genital mutilation is practiced, women are kept from education, etc. I’m learning a lot.