The practice of offering complete devotion to an adoptive child regardless of behavior, outcomes, or reciprocation, rooted in Rabia's radical love of the divine.
Rabia al-Adawiyya taught that true love seeks nothing in return and places no conditions on devotion. In adoptive parenting, this principle transforms the parent-child relationship from transactional to transcendent. Parents practicing unconditional love release expectations about gratitude, achievement, or behavioral perfection. This doesn't mean abandoning boundaries, but rather maintaining presence and care even during conflict, rejection, or disappointment. Rabia's tradition illuminates how adoptive parents can honor their child's pre-adoption trauma and complex identity by loving them not for who they become, but for who they are. This foundational stance creates safety for children to heal and belong, knowing they are valued inherently rather than instrumentally.
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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