What Are the Forms of Sponsoring an Orphan?
ما هي صور كفالة اليتيم؟
What are the methods for sponsoring an orphan?
The answer describes three forms of sponsorship: taking the orphan into one's family and raising him as one's own child, the most complete form, called full sponsorship; paying him a regular sum that covers his food, clothing, and education without taking him in; and contributing part of his expenses, which is not full sponsorship.
Because people have different capacities, Islam offers multiple ways to earn the immense reward of helping an orphan. Whether through adopting them into your daily life or supporting them remotely, every effort makes a profound difference.
1. Full Sponsorship Inside the Home
To welcome the orphan into one's family to live with them, support him financially, and raise him alongside one's own children. This method ensures the orphan receives both material provision and emotional warmth. This is the most complete method of sponsorship, and it is called full sponsorship.
2. Comprehensive Financial Sponsorship
The sponsor pays the orphan a sum of money regularly that suffices for his basic needs of food, clothing, and education, without taking him into his home.
3. Partial Financial Contribution
The sponsor contributes some money toward the orphan's maintenance and cares for him partially. Because it is a contribution that does not cover all his needs, it is not considered full sponsorship.
ما هي صور كفالة اليتيم؟
يذكر الجواب ثلاث صور للكفالة: ضم اليتيم إلى الأسرة وتربيته كأحد الأبناء، وهي أكملها وتسمى الكفالة التامة، ودفع مبلغ منتظم يكفيه للطعام واللباس والتعليم دون ضمه، والمساهمة في جزء من نفقته، وهذه لا تعد كفالة تامة.
نظرا لاختلاف قدرات الناس، يقدم الإسلام طرقا متعددة لكسب الأجر العظيم لمساعدة اليتيم. وسواء كان ذلك من خلال ضمهم إلى حياتك اليومية أو دعمهم عن بعد، فإن كل جهد يحدث فرقا عميقا.
الكفالة التامة داخل المنزل
أن يضم اليتيم إلى أسرته ويعيش معهم، فينفق عليه ويربيه كأحد أبنائه. تضمن هذه الطريقة حصول اليتيم على الدعم المادي والدفء العاطفي. وهذه أكمل الصور وأفضلها، ويطلق عليها الكفالة التامة.
الكفالة المالية الشاملة
أن يدفع الكافل لليتيم مبلغا من المال بشكل منتظم يكفيه لسد حاجاته الأساسية من الطعام واللباس والتعليم، دون أن يضمه إليه في بيته.
المساهمة المالية الجزئية
أن يساهم الكافل بدفع بعض المال لليتيم الخاص بالإنفاق عليه ورعايته جزئيا. ولأنها مساهمة لا تغطي كافة الاحتياجات، لا تعتبر هذه الكفالة كفالة تامة.
1. Who Counts as a Sponsor | من هو كافل اليتيم
Al-Nawawi explains that the sponsor of an orphan is the one who takes charge of his affairs, his maintenance, clothing, discipline, upbringing, and the like, and that this virtue is earned by whoever sponsors him from his own wealth, or from the orphan's own wealth as his lawful guardian (Sharh Sahih Muslim). This is why the answer counts both raising the orphan at home and paying for his needs as forms of sponsorship.
قال النووي: "كافل اليتيم القائم بأموره من نفقة وكسوة وتأديب وتربية وغير ذلك، وهذه الفضيلة تحصل لمن كفله من مال نفسه أو من مال اليتيم بولاية شرعية" (شرح صحيح مسلم). ولهذا عد الجواب ضم اليتيم إلى البيت والإنفاق على حاجاته كليهما من صور الكفالة.
2. A Mother Raising Her Orphans | أم ترعى أيتامها
Umm Salama asked: O Messenger of Allah, will I be rewarded for spending on the sons of Abu Salama, for I will not leave them like this and that; they are my sons too? He said: Yes, you have the reward of what you spend on them (Sahih al-Bukhari 5369). Spending on orphans in one's own home is rewarded, even for a mother on her own children.
قالت أم سلمة: يا رسول الله، هل لي من أجر في بني أبي سلمة أن أنفق عليهم، ولست بتاركتهم هكذا وهكذا، إنما هم بني؟ قال: "نعم، لك أجر ما أنفقت عليهم" (صحيح البخاري 5369). فالإنفاق على الأيتام في البيت مأجور، ولو كانت الأم تنفق على أولادها.
3. Feeding the Orphan for the Love of Allah | إطعام اليتيم لوجه الله
Allah praises the righteous who give food, despite their love for it, to the poor, the orphan, and the captive (Al-Insan 76:8). Even a partial contribution to an orphan's needs, which the answer distinguishes from full sponsorship, falls under this praise.
وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا (سورة الإنسان: 8)
أثنى الله تعالى على الأبرار الذين يطعمون الطعام على حبه مسكينا ويتيما وأسيرا (الإنسان 76:8). والمساهمة الجزئية في نفقة اليتيم، التي فرقها الجواب عن الكفالة التامة، داخلة في هذا الثناء.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What is the best way to sponsor an orphan?
Taking him into your family and raising him as one of your children, which the answer calls the most complete form, full sponsorship.
Is paying an orphan's expenses considered sponsorship?
Yes. The answer names paying a regular sum that covers his food, clothing, and education as a form of sponsorship, and al-Nawawi defines the sponsor as the one who takes charge of the orphan's maintenance and upbringing.
Does a small contribution count as full sponsorship?
No. The answer says a partial contribution that does not cover all his needs is not full sponsorship; it is still good spending praised in Al-Insan 76:8.
Is a mother rewarded for spending on her own orphaned children?
Yes. Umm Salama asked about spending on her children after Abu Salama died, and the Prophet said: you have the reward of what you spend on them (Sahih al-Bukhari 5369).