Who is an orphan.
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
Who is
orphan and at what extent or age we can consider it as we have to be polite
with them and what are their rights? please explain with strong hadis refrence.
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Answer:
Who is an orphan
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His
help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide,
and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear
witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear
witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 177:
177 It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces toward East or West;
but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and
the Book and the Messengers; to spend of your substance out of love for Him for
your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those
who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer and practice
regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and
patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of
panic. Such are the people of truth, the
Allah-fearing.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 215:
215 They ask thee what they should spend (in charity). Say: “Whatever ye spend that is good is for
parents, and kindred, and orphans, and those in want, and for
wayfarers. And whatever ye do that is
good Allah knoweth it well.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 220:
220 …..They ask thee (O Prophet (saws)) concerning orphans. Say: "The best thing to do is what is
for their good.”
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4974 Narrated by Abu Umamah
Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "If
anyone strokes an orphan's head, doing so only for Allah's Sake, he will have
blessings for every hair over which his hand passes; and if anyone treats well
an orphan girl or boy under his care, he and I (Prophet Mohamed (saws)) shall
be like these two in Paradise," putting two of his fingers together!
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4973 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah
Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "The best
house among the Muslims is one which contains an orphan who is well treated,
and the worst house among the Muslims is one which contains an orphan who is
badly treated."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.34 Narrated by Sahl bin Sad
The Prophet (saws) said, "I and the
person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in
Your
Question: Who is orphan?
Any child (male or female) whose has no father or whose
father has died and the child has not reached the age of understanding or
marriage (+/- 16 years) will be classified as a ‘yateem’ or an orphan in
Islamic Jurisprudence.
Your
Question: …..at what extent or age we can consider it as we have to be polite
with them
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah
Nisaa verse 6:
6 Make trial of orphans
until they reach the age of marriage; if then ye find
sound judgment in them release their property to them; but consume it not
wastefully nor in haste against their growing up. If the guardian is well-off let him claim no
remuneration but if he is poor let him have for himself what is just and
reasonable. When ye release their
property to them take witnesses in their presence: but all-sufficient is Allah
in taking account.
An orphan will be considered an orphan until they reach
the age of understanding and marriage, which in the opinion of most scholars is
+/- 16 years. And Allah Alone Knows Best.
Your
Question: …..what are their rights?
Although it would be possible to list a whole series of
rights which are due to orphans in Islam, Allah is our witness sister, this one
simple and all-encompassing phrase of the Glorious Quran would more than
suffice as a ‘list of their rights’…….
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 220:
220 …..They ask thee (O Prophet (saws)) concerning orphans. Say: "The best thing to do is what is for their good.”
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only
due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me
alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is
the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
Wister