The article explains that while Islamic law is often said to forbid adoption in the Western sense, where a child’s identity and lineage are legally replaced by those of adoptive parents, this misses the well-established Islamic alternative of kafala, a guardianship system that allows non-biological caregivers to raise and support children without erasing their biological identity or inheritance rights. It describes how kafala, grounded in Islamic legal principles prioritising preservation of a child’s lineage, operates in various Muslim-majority countries and has been increasingly recognised in international law as a valid form of alternative care distinct from both Western adoption and foster care. The piece also clarifies the frequent confusion between child kafala and unrelated “kafala” labour systems, and discusses how colonial legacies and contemporary legal frameworks in Europe and beyond have shaped misunderstandings about Muslim approaches to child care and protection.