What Are the Rights of the Orphan?
ما هي حقوق اليتيم؟
What are the rights of the orphan?
The answer lists three rights of the orphan: protecting his wealth and preferably trading with it for his benefit (Al-An'am 6:152), guardianship over his wealth until he reaches sound judgment (An-Nisa 4:5-6), and looking after his interests by warding off harm and meeting his needs (Al-Baqarah 2:220).
Islam mandates strict legal and moral safeguards for orphans. These rights are not merely suggestions but are divine commands aimed at ensuring justice, prosperity, and kindness for those who have lost their primary provider.
1. Protection and Growth of Wealth
The orphan's money should be protected, and it is highly desirable that the trustees invest the money for the benefit of the orphan. Allah Almighty says: (And do not come near the wealth of the orphan unless intending to enhance it until they attain maturity) Surah Al An'am 6: 152.
2. Trusteeship and Legal Competence
One must protect the orphan's money, and the orphan must be prevented from spending it, for his own interest and that of his family, until the orphan reaches the age of sound judgment.
Allah Almighty says: (Do not entrust the incapable among your dependants with your wealth which Allah has made a means of support for you but feed and clothe them from it, and speak to them kindly. Test the competence of the orphans until they reach a marriageable age. Then if you feel they are capable of sound judgment, return their wealth to them. And do not consume it wastefully and hastily before they grow up to demand it. If the guardian is well off, they should not take compensation; but if the guardian is poor, let them take a reasonable provision. When you give orphans back their property, call in witnesses. And sufficient is Allah as a vigilant Reckoner.) Surah An Nisa'a 4: 5 to 6.
Note: The quotation above covers two verses, An-Nisa 4:5 and 4:6; the reference in the original answer, 4:6, has been extended to 4:5-6.
3. Caring for Needs and Interests
Caring for his interests involves warding off anything harmful, obtaining what is good for them, and fulfilling their needs. Allah Almighty says: (And they ask you O Prophet concerning orphans. Say, Improving their condition is best. And if you partner with them, they are bonded with you in faith. And Allah knows who intends harm and who intends good.) Surah Al Baqara 2: 220.
ما هي حقوق اليتيم؟
يذكر الجواب ثلاثة حقوق لليتيم: حفظ ماله واستحباب الاتجار به لمصلحته (الأنعام 6:152)، والوصاية على ماله حتى يبلغ الرشد (النساء 4:5-6)، والقيام على مصالحه بدفع الشرور عنه وجلب المصالح وقضاء الحاجات (البقرة 2:220).
يفرض الإسلام ضمانات قانونية وأخلاقية صارمة للأيتام. هذه الحقوق ليست مجرد اقتراحات بل هي أوامر إلهية تهدف إلى ضمان العدالة والازدهار واللطف لأولئك الذين فقدوا معيلهم الأساسي.
حماية وتنمية مال اليتيم
يجب حفظ مال اليتيم من الضياع كما يستحب الاتجار به لمصلحة اليتيم، لقوله تعالى: (وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ) الأنعام 6: 152.
الوصاية والأهلية
تجب الوصاية على مال اليتيم، ويجب منعه من التصرف فيه بما يحقق المصلحة والخير له ولأهله، حتى يبلغ اليتيم سن الرشد.
قال الله تعالى: (وَلَا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَامًا وَارْزُقُوهُمْ فِيهَا وَاكْسُوهُمْ وَقُولُوا لَهُمْ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا * وَابْتَلُوا الْيَتَامَىٰ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغُوا النِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ آنَسْتُم مِّنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَادْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَا إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا أَن يَكْبَرُوا ۚ وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُوا عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ حَسِيبًا) النساء 4: 5 إلى 6.
ملاحظة: النص المقتبس آيتان من سورة النساء هما الخامسة والسادسة، وكانت الإحالة في الجواب الأصلي إلى الآية السادسة وحدها، فوسعت لتشمل الآيتين.
القيام على المصالح
القيام على مصالحه بدفع الشرور عنه وجلب المصالح وقضاء الحاجات. قال الله تعالى: (وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْيَتَامَىٰ ۖ قُلْ إِصْلَاحٌ لَّهُمْ خَيْرٌ ۖ وَإِن تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ الْمُفْسِدَ مِنَ الْمُصْلِحِ) البقرة 2: 220.
1. Trading With the Orphan's Wealth | الاتجار في مال اليتيم
Malik reports that Umar ibn al-Khattab said: Trade with the wealth of orphans so that zakat does not consume it (Muwatta Malik 589, reported by Malik as a report that reached him). This is the investment the answer recommends: growing the orphan's wealth for his benefit rather than leaving it to shrink.
روى مالك أنه بلغه أن عمر بن الخطاب قال: "اتجروا في أموال اليتامى لا تأكلها الزكاة" (موطأ مالك 589، بلاغا). وهذا هو الاتجار الذي ذكره الجواب: تنمية مال اليتيم لمصلحته بدلا من تركه يتناقص.
2. What a Poor Guardian May Take | ما يأخذه الولي الفقير
Aisha said about the verse whoever is rich, let him refrain, and whoever is poor, let him take what is reasonable: it was revealed about the guardian of an orphan, that he may take from the orphan's wealth, when he is in need, a reasonable amount in proportion to it (Sahih al-Bukhari 2765).
قالت عائشة رضي الله عنها في قوله تعالى: (ومن كان غنيا فليستعفف ومن كان فقيرا فليأكل بالمعروف): "أنزلت في والي اليتيم أن يصيب من ماله إذا كان محتاجا بقدر ماله بالمعروف" (صحيح البخاري 2765).
3. Living Together as Brothers | المخالطة بالإصلاح
Ibn Abbas said that when the verses forbidding approaching the orphan's wealth were revealed, those caring for orphans separated their food and drink from the orphan's; leftovers spoiled, and this became hard for them, so they told the Prophet, and Allah revealed: they ask you about orphans; say, improving their condition is best, and if you mix with them, they are your brothers (Al-Baqarah 2:220); so they mixed their food with theirs again (Sunan Abi Dawud 2871, graded hasan by al-Albani).
قال ابن عباس: لما أنزل الله (ولا تقربوا مال اليتيم إلا بالتي هي أحسن) و(إن الذين يأكلون أموال اليتامى ظلما) انطلق من كان عنده يتيم فعزل طعامه من طعامه وشرابه من شرابه، فاشتد ذلك عليهم، فذكروا ذلك لرسول الله ﷺ، فأنزل الله: (ويسألونك عن اليتامى قل إصلاح لهم خير وإن تخالطوهم فإخوانكم)، فخلطوا طعامهم بطعامه وشرابهم بشرابه (سنن أبي داود 2871، وحسنه الألباني).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Can a guardian invest an orphan's money?
Yes. The answer says trading with it for the orphan's benefit is recommended, and Umar said: trade with the wealth of orphans so that zakat does not consume it (Muwatta Malik 589).
When should the wealth be returned to the orphan?
When he reaches marriageable age and shows sound judgment, before witnesses (An-Nisa 4:6), as the answer explains.
Can a poor guardian take from the orphan's wealth?
Yes, a reasonable amount. Aisha said the verse was revealed about the guardian, who may take from it when in need, in proportion to it and in a reasonable way (Sahih al-Bukhari 2765); a rich guardian should refrain.
May the guardian share food and household with the orphan?
Yes, if it improves the orphan's condition. When guardians separated their food out of caution, Allah revealed: if you mix with them, they are your brothers (Al-Baqarah 2:220; Sunan Abi Dawud 2871).