Importance of Orphans’ Rights

In Islam there is a great importance of orphans. Allah has given so many rights to children and it is duty upon everyone to take care and to love children. Similarly, Allah has assigned a more strict duty on those who are taking care or bringing up orphan children.

Taking care of orphans entails a significant amount of obligation. When it applies to Islam and orphan treatment, there are very specific restrictions. Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) was himself an orphan child and our beloved Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) has also instructed to take a good care of those who do not have parents or who do not have fathers.

What Hadith says regarding the Rewards for those who take care of Orphans

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said:

“I will be like this in Jannah with the person who takes care of an orphan.”

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) raised his forefinger and middle finger by way of illustration [Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Adab].

Property of Orphans

As Islam has mentioned the clear yet strict instructions regarding the taking care of orphans likewise Islam is very much concerned when it comes to the property of Orphans. Allah says in various verses in Holy Quran regarding the property and wealth of orphans which they have got from their departed fathers.

Punishment for those who devour Orphans’ Belongings

Allah says in Surah Al-Nisa, verse 10:

Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a Blaze (i.e., Hellfire)” [4:10].

According to Tafsir al-Kabir, anyone who defrauds an orphan of his properties will be presented on the Day of Judgment with flames protruding from his mouth, nose, and ears. People would remember him as the man who usurped the orphans' property during his lifetime. The final sentence, “They shall enter burning fire,” implies that anyone who takes away an orphan of his or her rightful property will be condemned to Hell-fire, even though he has performed no other sin.

Exchanging the property/associations of Orphans

Allah says in Surah Al-Nisa, verse 2:

“And give to the orphans their properties and do not substitute the defective [of your own] for the good [of theirs]. And do not consume their properties into your own. Indeed, that is ever a great sin” [4:2].

Allah is saying in the above verse that never even exchanges the properties of orphans with your own property intentionally or unintentionally and never replace the good associations of orphans with your defected associations. Indeed, it is the major sin which will not forgive in the Day of Judgment.

A caretaker must be very cautious not to waste any of the orphan's assets on himself. It is a really punishable crime that will render all of his Halal assets Harm. Under no conditions can an orphan's precious belongings be replaced with something less valuable. Finally, when the child grows up, all of his belongings should be given to him with sincerity.

Betraying the Trust of Orphans

Allah says in Surah al-Nisa, verse 9:

“And let those [executors and guardians] fear [injustice] as if they [themselves] had left weak offspring behind and feared for them. So let them fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice” [4:9].

Those who betray orphans' faith and oppress them will have their children suffer the same fate. It is an incredible fact uncovered by the Holy Qur'an. Additionally, the Qur'an tells us in several verses that the results of our deeds are visible in this world. People experience the consequences of their actions in this world. Thus, we need to be very much clear that what Quran says and we should be careful that whether we are acting accordingly or not.