Raising someone else's child

Raising someone else's childCategory: ParentingRaising someone else's child
Hamida Ahmed. asked 6 years ago

Assalamu Alaikum. I have a friend of ours (my husband and I) who gave birth to a baby and she approached us and asked us to raise the child.
She is unable to raise the baby on her own and the father of the child has refused to take responsibility for the child. As per Islam, what should we do and what are the legal steps to take to protect ourselves?