The gab between the rich and the poor is widening. It is becoming a
major issue of debate during our Presidential Elections, and certainly
the most important issue globally. Does Islam have a solution for
this problem? What is the position of Islam towards orphans and the
poor? This is a series of articles, in this paper; we focus on
protecting the rights of orphans.

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The mercifulness of believers may also be observed in their approach
to orphans. The noblest of attitudes that must be shown to orphans,
who need the care and interest of others because they have lost their
parents, are made explicit in the Qur'an. One of the exemplary
attitudes believers meticulously adopt is "to do good" to orphans and
"never to treat them harshly".

In societies in which the values of the Qur'an are not observed, no
system has been devised to protect the rights of orphans or to secure
their future. Protection, such as it is, depends upon the conscience
of the people. For this reason, some ill-intentioned individuals may
try to benefit from the lack of experience and ignorance of these
children. Indeed, having no one to protect their rights, orphans can
readily become subject to abusive treatment at the hands of those who
have taken it upon themselves to care for them. Such people may expect
orphans to feel gratitude because they have taken them under their
wing or they may reproachfully remind them of the kindnesses they have
done them. On the other hand, subjecting them to a different kind of
treatment, they may oppress these children in both the physical and
the spiritual sense. Nevertheless, Allah prohibits subjecting orphans
to harsh treatment and condemns those who mistreat them:

Have you seen him who denies the religion? He is the one who
harshly rebuffs the orphan and does not urge the feeding of the poor.
So woe to those who do prayer, and are forgetful of their prayer,
those who show off and deny help to others. (Surat al-Ma'un: 1-7)

Contrary to such offensive treatment, Qur'anic morality demands
tolerant and compassionate treatment of orphans as expressed in the
verse, "(be good to) orphans and the very poor. And speak good words
to people". (Surat al-Baqara: 83) Believers meticulously observe this
command. Their conscience and understanding of humanity entail the
protection of orphans who need help and care, and the meeting of all
their spiritual and material needs. Believers never oppress orphans,
expect them to appreciate their kindness or strive to obtain any
material or spiritual benefits from them. On the contrary, they
protect their rights and adopt the best possible attitude. Their
strong sense of what is right, their profound fear of Allah and their
compassion account for this meticulousness.

Improving the situation in life of orphans and bringing them up as
decent individuals:

...They will ask you about the property of orphans. Say, "Managing
it in their best interests is best". If you mix your property with
theirs, they are your brothers... (Surat al-Baqara: 220)

As is implied in the above verse, Allah advises believers to bring
orphans up as decent individuals. Believers show keenness to take this
responsibility upon themselves and do their best to educate them in
the best way possible.

However, the most important responsibility of a person who takes a
child under his protection is to instill in him the noble values of
the Qur'an and to make him regard Allah with due appreciation. That is
because these are the most important issues that guide the individual
to truth and salvation. A child develops moral sense in the light of
the knowledge he acquires in his early years and is accordingly
prepared for his eternal life in the hereafter. For this reason, this
is the most important issue to which a believer pays attention while
an orphan under his care is being educated. He does his utmost to
ensure that he or she has superior values as a believer. No doubt,
this is only made possible by his living by the values of the Qur'an
himself. Abiding by Islamic ethics ensures that orphans grow up into
decent, intelligent, hard-working individuals.

Allah issues a stern warning to those who misappropriate the wealth of
orphans:

People who consume the property of orphans wrongfully consume
nothing in their bellies except fire. They will roast in a Searing
Blaze. (Surat an-Nisa': 10)

In compliance with the above verse, believers who assume the
responsibility for an orphan do not spend that orphan's personal
wealth for their own needs or expect anything in return. On the
contrary, giving them priority over all others, they protect the
rights and wealth of such orphans as are entrusted to them by Allah.

Being meticulous about protecting the wealth of an orphan entrusted to
one's care is something peculiar to those who are sincere in their
faith, who have a high standard of morality and who grasp the
understanding of mercy described in the Qur'an, especially since a
guardian is granted the authority to spend the wealth of an orphan.
Not spending a penny for one's own personal needs out of a property
entrusted to one-despite having the authority to spend from it is
truly a matter of conscience. In the Qur'an, Allah advises the wealthy
guardian to behave decently in this matter. If the guardian in
question is poor, then he is allowed to spend within the due limits
specified in the Qur'an. Allah warns that, "devouring" the wealth of
the orphan is a grave sin.

Give orphans their property, and do not substitute bad things for
good. Do not assimilate their property into your own. Doing that is a
serious crime. (Surat an-Nisa': 2)

Fearing Allah and His grievous punishment in the hereafter, believers
carefully conserve the wealth of orphans until they reach intellectual
maturity. When orphans grow old and mature enough to exercise rational
and healthy judgement, believers hand over their property to them. The
conditions of this are specified in the Qur'an as follows:

Keep a close check on orphans until they reach a marriageable age,
then if you perceive that they have sound judgement hand over their
property to them. Do not consume it extravagantly and precipitately
before they come of age. Those who are wealthy should abstain from it
altogether. Those who are poor should use it sensibly and correctly.
When you hand over their property to them ensure that there are
witnesses on their behalf. Allah suffices as a Reckoner. (Surat an-
Nisa': 6)

By: Br. Harun Yahya