Mercy and Compassion towards Orphans

Islam urges for the virtues and the nobilities of morality. One of the noble moralities isthe charity to ORPHANS.

Almighty Allah says, “Have you seen him who denies the deen? He is the one who harshly rebuffs the ORPHAN
 and does not urge the feeding of the poor.”

(Surah Al-Ma’un Chapter 107:Verse 1-3)

The verses of Surah Al-Ma’un cover the vices of boastfulness and pride, miserliness and hypocrisy, but before all of these harmful vices, Almighty Allah in this chapter mentions the active repulsion of the orphan. To be an orphan is to be without the warmth, shelter and security that a parent’s care provides naturally. That this should stir our compassionate instincts is understandable, as is Allah’s stern reprimand to the one who would repulse them, especially since their condition in this life mirrors all of ours’ on the Day of Judgment.

Almighty Allah , in His infinite wisdom, made Prophet (peace be upon him) an orphan. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was orphaned three times over, of his father, mother and then grandfather. What is striking in the life of the Prophet(peace be upon him) is that in society’s eyes, he had nothing, and yet Allah used him as an instrument to evoke the greatest changes in society the world has ever seen.

Few other verses from the Qur’an about showing mercy towards Orphans

“So as for the ORPHANS, do not oppress them, and as for beggars, do not berate them,”

(Surah Ad-Duha Chapter 93:Verse 9-10)

“Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Be good to your parents and relatives and to ORPHANS and the very poor, and to neighbours who are related to you and neighbours who are not related to you, and to companions and travellers and your slaves.”

(Surah An-Nisa Chapter 4:Verse 36)

And they give (their own) food, in deep love of Allah, to the needythe ORPHAN and prisoner (out of sacrifice, despite their own desire and need for it), (And say:) ‘We are feeding you only to please Allah. We do not seek any recompense from you nor (wish for) any thanks.

( Surah Al- Insan Chapter 76: Verse 8-9)

Ahadith about caring for Orphans

Entering Paradise is a great reward won by the believers; then how about accompanying the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in it? This is a degree that can be reached by those who are charitable to orphans.

Hadith #1

According to Hazrat Abu hurayra(Radiyallahu Anhu) ,”Allah’s messenger(peace be upon him)  said,’I and the caretaker of an orphan,whether a relative or not, are in paradise like these  two,’ and Malik (the narrator) pointed with his index and middle finger.”

{Sahih Muslim, Kitab Al- Zuhd wa Al-Raqaiaq,Hadith #2983;Ahmad b. Hambal in Al-Musnad 2:375 ,Hadith #8868; Al Mundhiri in Al-Targhib wa Al-Tarhib,Hadith #3832}

Hadith #2

According to ibn’Abbas (Radiyallahu Anhu), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ”Whoever has an orphan among the muslims partake of his food or drink, Allah will cause him to enter paradise- unless he commits an unpardonable sin.”

{Imam-Tirmidhi in al-Sunan ,Kitab Al-Birr wa al-sila,Hadith #1917; Ahmad b. Hambal in Al-Musnad, 4:344 Hadith #I9047; Abu Yala in Al-Musnad Hadith #926; Imam Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman Hadith #7886}

Hadith #3

According to Hazrat Abu Hurayra (Radiyallahu Anhu) ,the Prophet(peace be upon him) said, ”the best house among the muslims is the house in which resides an orphan who is treated well. And the worst house among the muslims is the house in which resides an orphan who is treated badly.”

{Imam Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Hadith #138;Ibn-e-Majah,Kitab Al-Adab, Hadith #3679;Al-Tabrani in Mu’jam al-Awsat,Hadith #4785;Al-Mundhiri in al-Targhib wa Al-Tarhib,Hadith #3840}

Hadith #4

According to Hazrat Abu Hurayra (Radiyallahu Anhu), “a man complained about his hard heart to Allah’s Messenger and so the Prophet (peace be upon him) told him,’ if you wish for your heart to become soft, feed the poor and rub the head of (i.e. care for ) the orphan.”

{Imam Ahmad b. Hambal in Al-Musnad,Hadith #7566;Imam Bayhaqi in Al-Sunan Al-Kubra, Hadith #6886 and Shu’ab Al-Iman Hadith #11034;Al-Haythami in Majma al-Zawahid 8:160;Abd Ibn Humayd in al-Musnad Hadith #1426}

Hadith #5

According to Abu Umama (Radiyallahu Anhu) , Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said,”Whoever rubs an orphan’s head, and only does so for the sake of Allah,then for each strand of hair he rubs he will gain good deeds. And whoever deals kindly with an orphan boy under his care, he and I will be in Paradise like these two,” and he separated a bit between his index and middle finger.

{Imam Ahmad b. Hambal in Al-Musnad,Hadith #22207;Al-Tabrani in Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir ,Hadith #7821;Ibn Abi Al-Dunya in Al-Iyal, Hadith #609;Al-Mundhiri in al-Targhib wa Al-Tarhib Hadith #3843}

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