Adopting a Child in Islam: Islamic legal rulings about foster parenting and adoption

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said that a person who cares for an orphaned child will be in Paradise with him, and motioned to show that they would be as close as two fingers of a single hand. An orphan himself, Muhammad paid special attention to the care of children. He himself adopted a former slave and raised him with the same care as if he were his own son.

However, ...

http://islam.about.com/cs/parenting/a/adoption.htm