Orphans of yatim in Arabian is children who has lost their parents, both father and mother, in various cause. They have not reach age of maturity yet, and by the law they can’t live on their own. Orphans should be cared by their living relatives and the society as well. However, caring for the orphans is not easy as it has been told. If it is, the rewards would have not been so big.
There are many cases where orphans got abused and even their rights are violated. We must care for the orphans with love, and here are the list of ways how to treat orphans in Islam:
1. Feed and Care for Them
Orphans are the responsibility of the society and their basic needs should be fulfilled. That is why feeding the orphans and take care of them with love is the right way to treat the. As they no longer have their parents to feed and love them.
“And they feed for the love of ALLAH, the poor, the orphans, and the captive.” – An Nisa (4:8)
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2. Not to Abuse Their Rights
Orphans are left unprotected and nobody seems to fight for their rights like their parents died if they would’ve been alive. Since we know that they have no guardian, we should never abuse their rights. Taking what they should have, not giving their rights, or even abusing them in an inhuman ways.
3. Providing Protection to the Orphans
It has become a moral and religious duty for every Muslim to provide protection for the orphans. Make sure that they live their life happily and rightly, they have the moral and formal education, and what’s more important is they get the love they need. Allah SWT promised great rewards for Muslims who cares of the orphans.
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4. Never Show Cruelty Towards the Orphans
Orphans are little kids who needs love. Don’t act cruel to them like saying harsh things, abusing the physically and even humiliating them since they have no parents. Everyone who treat orphans in a bad manners should be prepared for the wrath of Allah.
5. Take Care of Their Needs
Whether it’s their moral needs, education needs, or the psychological needs, all of them should be taken care by the relatives and the society from the day their parents died.
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6. Treat Them with Justice and Equality
Just because they have no parents doesn’t mean we could treat them harshly. They have to treated equally as others in the society and given their rights despite their parentless status. It was mentioned in An Nisa, the fourth surah in the Quran in verse 127 that Allah Himself has called upon all Muslims to treat the orphans with justice and equality.
7. Raise Them Together with the Society
Raising the orphans actually becomes duty for the caretaker and the society. We must remember that the only way to raise the orphans is by raising them in the right way. As a great rewards is promised for the caretaker of the society, let’s all committing good deeds to all orphans in the world.
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8. Don’t Exchange Their Property with Yours
“And give the orphans their property, and do not exchange something bad (of yours) for something good (of theirs), nor devour their property along with your own; (for) it is surely a great crime.” – An Nisa (4:2)
9. Not Taking Advantage of the Wealth of the Orphans
If the orphans are left with fortune by their parents, then their caretaker should not taking advantage from it. Which means, even though the caretaker is now act as the orphans’ guardian doesn’t mean they have rights for the wealth.
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10. Showing Kindness Only to Them
In the Quran, the orphans are mentioned right after parents and the kin. Outside the family and relatives, the one who are deserving kindness the most are none other than the orphans. We must remember that the orphans no longer have the bread-earner of the family, their father.
“…..and (you shall do) good to (your) parents, and to the near of kin and to the orphans….” – Al Baqara (2:83)
Rewards for Treating the Orphans Well
The Holy Quran mentioned “yatim” the Arabian for orphans more than 20 times. As Muslims and other human should treat orphans lovingly with good care, great rewards come along with it. Here are the rewards for treating the orphans well, according to what Allah SWT had written in the Quran and how the Prophet did in the past.
- Whoever treat orphans with good care will be protected from Allah’s wrath on the day of judgement. Always taking care of the orphans with love, gentle, and care. Any threat and bad things will not happen to them in that defining day.
- To enter the paradise is the dream of of every Muslim. Provide the orphans with everything they need including food, clothes, and house. Allah has promise the seven heaven for this.
- By giving away some fortune to the orphans will not make it decrease. You will be given with enormous fortune instead.
- Muslims who care and love the orphans sincerely will be able to drink the spring water in Jannah.
- More than that, whoever care for the orphans will be together with the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the Jannah. Like the Prophet said in a hadith by Bukhari and Muslim, “I and the caretaker of the orphan will enter paradise together like this, raising (by way of illustration) his forefinger and middle finger jointly leaving no space in between.”
- Good fortune and wealth will be attracted to the house of them who has been kind to the orphans.
- As you fulfill the needs of the needy, Allah SWT make sure you won’t be short of anything. All of your need will be fulfilled too.
So those are the best way how to treat orphans in Islam. Orphans is a prat of society that valued highly in Islam. Let’s all do good not only to the orphans but also to everyone around us.
“Beware! Beware! Do not ever be neglectful of orphans. I warn you again, never leave an orphan hungry and unprotected.” – Imam Ali