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.
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
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
