Short answer
No. You may raise and love a child as your own, which Islam calls kafalah (sponsorship) and rewards greatly, but the child keeps the birth father's name, because the Quran says "call them by the names of their fathers". If the father is unknown, use a neutral Muslim name instead of your surname.
Caring for an orphan or a child in need is highly rewarded, but attributing the child to anyone other than the real father is haram. The child does not inherit from the carer automatically; up to one third of the estate can be left by will (wasiyyah), and gifts in life are allowed.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Islam does not forbid taking a child into your home. It forbids changing the child's lineage. Before Islam, an adopted son became a legal son, took the adopter's name and inherited. The Quran ended this: Allah has not made your adopted sons your real sons, so call them by their fathers' names. The Prophet ﷺ himself had raised Zayd, who until then was called Zayd ibn Muhammad, and he became Zayd ibn Harithah again. The four schools agree on this.
Why lineage matters: it decides who the child may marry, who is mahram, who inherits and who the child's real family is. Hiding it can lead to a marriage between siblings or to wronging heirs.
In practice:
- Keep the birth surname where you can. If the law of your country issues papers in your name, make sure the true lineage is recorded and never hidden from the child.
- If the father is unknown, a neutral Muslim surname such as Abdullah is a common choice.
- Tell the child the truth, in an age-appropriate way.
- Provide for the child in your Islamic will, up to one third.
- Plan for hijab and mahram rules as the child grows. See is an adopted child mahram.
The Prophet ﷺ said that he and the one who cares for an orphan will be in Paradise like two joined fingers. For the full picture, read adoption in Islam.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:4
مَّا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِرَجُلٍۢ مِّن قَلْبَيْنِ فِى جَوْفِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَزْوَٰجَكُمُ ٱلَّٰٓـِٔى تُظَٰهِرُونَ مِنْهُنَّ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَدْعِيَآءَكُمْ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ قَوْلُكُم بِأَفْوَٰهِكُمْ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَقُولُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَهُوَ يَهْدِى ٱلسَّبِيلَ ﴿٤﴾
Allah has not made for a man two hearts in his interior. And He has not made your wives whom you declare unlawful your mothers. And he has not made your adopted sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allah says the truth, and He guides to the [right] way.
Adoption does not make a child your son in lineage.
Quran, Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:5
ٱدْعُوهُمْ لِءَابَآئِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ ءَابَآءَهُمْ فَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَمَوَٰلِيكُمْ ۚ وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌۭ فِيمَآ أَخْطَأْتُم بِهِۦ وَلَٰكِن مَّا تَعَمَّدَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًا ﴿٥﴾
Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you do not know their fathers - then they are [still] your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you. And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
The child keeps the real father's name.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6766
Sahih... من ادعى إلى غير أبيه وهو يعلم أنه غير أبيه فالجنة عليه حرام ...
"Whoever claims to belong to someone other than his father, knowing he is not his father, Paradise is forbidden to him."
Changing lineage is a grave sin.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5304
Sahih... أنا وكافل اليتيم في الجنة هكذا ...
"I and the one who cares for an orphan will be in Paradise like this, and he held two fingers together."
Caring for a child in need is greatly rewarded.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Laqit (the foundling). On the lineage and care of a child whose parents are unknown.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Laqit. The same rules in the Hanbali school.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.