Youth for the truth - Blog , Islam

Who is an Orphan?

In Islam, an orphan is a child whose father has passed away when he/she is young (before reaching age of puberty).

When a father or both parents pass away its a huge loss for the kid/kids. Since they are young and don't know any better they are vulnerable. But Allah is always their protecting them and taking care of them like in Surah Kahf aya 82

In general, its very hard for people to take care of other people's kids while they have their own responsibilities and their families. But you find some people have very soft hearts, they help the orphans regardless. They feed them whatever they feed their own kids and teach them whatever they taught their own kids. Allah has softened their hearts to take care of them.

In Islam, there has been lot of emphasis given to orphans and there are rewards associated with taking care of them.

May Allah reward all the good people who have been helping all the orphans for his sake. Ameen

Qu'ran
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ ۖ قُلْ مَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَلِلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌۭ ٢١٥

They ask you, [O Muḥammad], what they should spend. Say, "Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it."
— Saheeh International

Hadith:

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، سَمِعْتُ سَهْلَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ، فِي الْجَنَّةِ هَكَذَا ‏"‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ السَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى‏.‏

Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this," putting his index and middle fingers together.

Sahih al-Bukhari 6005
Chapter 24: The superiority of the one who looks after an orphan., Book 78: Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab)
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6005

Get Started Now