Definition of an orphan
An orphan is defined as the person who lost his father when she or he was young. The kid remains an orphan until becoming mature; the Prophet (PBUH) said:
There is no orphanhood after reaching maturity
A young person after puberty is no longer called an orphan. An orphan has two cases in Islam, namely:
The first case:
The death of the father, leaving him money to his son; in this case, he is taken care of by his mother, or one of his relatives, to keep his money, and mustn’t use the money in a non-virtue way, and must give it to him when he becomes mature.
The second case:
the death of the father without leaving money to his son; in which case his mother, or a relative, will be raising and taking care of him; Allah -Almighty- said: –
وَٱعْبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَٰنًا وَبِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلْجَارِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْجَارِ ٱلْجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلْجَنۢبِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا
Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him and to parents do good and to relatives’ orphans the needy the near neighbor the neighbor farther away the companion at your side the traveler and those whom your right hands possess Indeed Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful
How to treat the orphan
Islam has given the orphan great interest whether in terms of education, treatment, or care; to be a positive person in his society, and to ensure him to live with dignity, this importance has been stated in many verses such as:
فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ
Therefore, treat not the orphan with harshness
In order not to feel alone, or inferiority to the rest of the community, and be a destructive element of the community. Islam also guided to treat the orphan with charity, forbidding his oppression, honoring him, and protecting his rights as stated in many verses such as:
وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا
And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive
Which some interpreters said as the son of Abbas-may Allah be pleased with him- It means feeding them the food they love.
Charity to the orphan and giving him attention are one of the things that were supported by Islam, and this is by being compassionate to him and teaching him discipline. Islam has urged those who take care of him must be responsible for his actions. In addition to defining some rules within the family, focusing on praising him if he commits positive behaviors, ignores negative behaviors, and take him to open places; because this helps him to start tall in this life, and encourage him to do some sports that suit him, and suits his age, and teach him some daily routine.
orphan sponsorship
orphan sponsorship has many virtues such as:
- It is a reason for being close to the Prophet – peace be upon him- In Paradise; The Prophet (PBUH) said:
أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ كَهَاتَيْنِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ ” . وَقَرَنَ بَيْنَ أُصْبُعَيْهِ الْوُسْطَى وَالَّتِي تَلِي الإِبْهَامَ
I and the one who takes the responsibility of an orphan will be in Paradise thus, and he joined his middle finger and forefinger.
- Taking care of orphans has the reward of the Mujahid in the cause of Allah-Almighty; said the Prophet – peace be upon him-:
السَّاعِي علَى الأرْمَلَةِ والمِسْكِينِ، كالْمُجاهِدِ في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ،
The one who looks after the widow and the needy person is like the one who fights in the cause of Allah
The holy Quran and the orphan
The Holy Qur’an has taken care of the orphan in many of its verses, and raised his status in all respects, whether in financial or psychological terms; taking into account the circumstances of the loss of his father, and this attention was from the beginning of the revelation to the Prophet (PBUH), who was an orphan
God also ordered the responsible for the orphan not to waste his funds, and preserve them, and pay them back to him when he becomes mature.
Allah said :
وَلا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ
And do not approach the orphan’s property except in a way that is best until he reaches maturity.
What confirms the interest of the Quran about the orphan that Allah – Almighty-century his worship by the charity to them; saying:
Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him and to parents do good and to relatives’ orphans the needy the near neighbor the neighbor farther away the companion at your side the traveler and those whom your right hands possess Indeed Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful
God has warned-Almighty people from taking money of the orphans with no right as he said:
Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a Blaze.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ الْيَتَامَىٰ ظُلْمًا إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا ۖ وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًا
