09/09/2026
*PUT ORPHANS IN YOUR BUDGET AS SCHOOLS RESUME FOR 2026/2027 ACADEMIC SESSION SOON*
*WHO IS AN ORPHAN?*
✍️ An orphan in Islamic perspective is an infant child whose FATHER- not mother- is dead before the age of puberty. By extension, it might extend to a child who lost his both parents during infancy. It is authentically reported by Abu Dawud and Baihaqi that the noble Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said : "There is no orphanhood after the age of puberty." Once a child has attained puberty, he is no longer an orphan in Islam.
✍️ The research has shown it that one child is orphaned every 22 second in the world. There is no doubt that life may be very difficult for these orphaned children if certain measures are not put in place. The issue of who will now look after them arises.
✍️ Dear brethren, what is your disposition to the orphans in your custody or environment? Are you really taking care of them? Who tells you your own children may not be part of them soon.
✍️ Is it because you don't know huge rewards attached to kindness to orphans that make you neglect them? Okay, let us peruse the below verses of the Qur'an:
👉 "Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the poor...." Q.4:36
👉 "And come not near to the orphan's property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength..." Q.17:34
👉 "And they give food, in spite of their love for it (or for the love of Allah) to the poor, the orphan and the captive. " Q.76:8
👉 "Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression. " Q.93 :9
👉 "Have you seen him who denies the Recompense # That is he who repulses the orphan (harshly) # And urges not the feeding of the poor." Q.107:1-3
✍️ Now, let us meditate over the meaning of the following Hadith:
📝 Abu Hurairah
(Radiyallahu Anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The one who cares for an orphan, whether it is a relative of his or not, he and I will be like these two in Paradise,” and Maalik pointed with his forefinger and middle finger. (Transmitted by Muslim)
📝 Sahl bin Sa’d (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The one who cares for an orphan and myself will be together in Paradise like this, and he held his two fingers together to illustrate it." (Transmitted by Bukhari)
📝 Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The best house among the Muslims is the one in
which an orphan is well treated while the worst house among the Muslims is the one in which an orphan is badly treated. The one who cares for an orphan and myself will be in Paradise like this, and he held his two fingers together.
(Transmitted by Bukhari in Al-Adabul-Mufrad)
📝 Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ”Whoever caresses the head of an orphan (in affection), solely for the sake of Allah, a good deed will be
written to his account for every hair over which he passed his hand, and whoever treated an orphan (boy or girl) with goodness and kindness, he and I will be close to each other in Heaven as these two fingers.” The Prophet now made a gesture with his fingers." (Transmitted by Ahmad)
📝Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrated that a man complained to Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about his being hard-hearted. On hearing this, the Prophet advised him if he wanted his heart to be softened to always feed the poor and wipe (caress) the head of orphans.”
(Transmitted by Ahmad)
*WAY FORWARD*
The below suggestions should be looked into:
1. Our Imams, scholars and Islamic preachers should urge Muslim masses to take care of orphans in their families/custody and enlighten them on enormous rewards await them before Allah.
2. Religious leaders, Muslim communities, wealthy Muslims and Islamic organisations should work tirelessly at their various capacities to establish orphanage centres/foundations and fund such centres.
3. Other Muslims whether rich or not should endeavour to donate in kind or cash to the success of such established orphanage centres/foundations.
4. Regular visitation should as well be carried out to those orphans. Words of encouragement should be rendered to them.
5. Private school owners should reserve certain number of enrollment for orphans free of charge and be considerate with orphans in their schools. Others such as hospital owners etc. should emulate them in making things easier for the orphans.
6. Different Islamic cooperative societies should be assisting orphans based on their capability.
7. The government should provide special education scholarships for orphans from primary to tertiary levels. They should know that those orphans if not properly catered for may constitute a nuisance to the society tomorrow. Allah will also ask them about their subjects one of whom is orphans in the hereafter.
✍️ As schools in Nigeria resume for 2026/2027 academic session in this September, let us put orphans in our budget. Let us help them in getting notebooks, textbooks, shoes, bags, uniform, school fees to mention but few.
✍️ At Imam IbnulQayyim Islamic Foundation, we have a lot of orphans in our custody already. Should you want to help them, kindly make voluntary donations through the foundation's account details below:
👉Account Number: 0011843672
👉Bank: Jaiz
👉Account Name: Imam IbnulQayyim Islamic Foundation
*JazakumuLlahu Khairan*
🤲 May Allah ease the burden of taking care of orphans and widows for us all. Amin 🤲
Written by:
Ustadh Rasheed Adekunle Haashim,
Director, Imam IbnulQayyim Islamic Foundation,
Ibadan
