Rabia's radical devotion modeled love that seeks nothing in return, a foundation for adoptive parents to release outcome-attachment and embrace unconditional acceptance.
Rabia al-Adawiyya taught love divorced from fear of punishment or hope for reward—a revolutionary stance in her era. For adoptive parents, this principle dissolves the trap of loving children conditionally based on gratitude, behavioral outcomes, or biological resemblance. Rabia's practice of loving God purely offers a mirror: adoptive love thrives when freed from the burden of being "earned" or reciprocated on parental terms. This doesn't mean passive acceptance of harm, but rather anchoring love in the child's inherent worth rather than performance or fulfillment of parental dreams. Her tradition teaches that the deepest belonging emerges when children sense they are loved for their essence, not their utility to the family narrative.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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