What Is the Definition of an Orphan?
ما هو تعريف اليتيم؟
What is the definition of an orphan?
The answer defines the orphan as one who lost his father before puberty, citing Ali ibn Abi Talib: "There is no orphanhood after puberty", and notes that Allah preserved the orphan's rights, commanding kindness to orphans alongside His worship and kindness to parents (An-Nisa 4:36).
Protecting the vulnerable is a core pillar of Islamic morality. The definition of an orphan in Islam establishes clear legal and social boundaries to ensure that growing children who lose their primary provider receive the support they need.
The Definition and Condition
The orphan is one who lost his father before puberty, referring to what has been established by Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him: "No one is considered an orphan after puberty."
Preserving the Rights of Orphans
Allah has preserved the right of the orphan, and He has legislated and recommended it to His creation.
Allah Almighty says: (Worship Allah alone and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor) Surah An Nisa'a 4: 36.
ما هو تعريف اليتيم؟
يعرف الجواب اليتيم بأنه من فقد أباه قبل البلوغ، مستدلا بقول علي بن أبي طالب: "لا يتم بعد احتلام"، ويبين أن الله حفظ حق اليتيم وأوصى بالإحسان إليه مع عبادته والإحسان إلى الوالدين (النساء 4:36).
تعتبر حماية الضعفاء ركيزة أساسية في الأخلاق الإسلامية. ويضع تعريف اليتيم في الإسلام حدودا قانونية واجتماعية واضحة لضمان حصول الأطفال الذين يفقدون معيلهم الأساسي على الدعم الذي يحتاجون إليه.
التعريف والشرط
يطلق لفظ اليتيم على من فقد أباه قبل البلوغ، استدلالا بما ثبت عن علي بن أبي طالب رضي الله عنه: "لا يتم بعد احتلام".
حفظ حقوق اليتيم
وقد حفظ الله تعالى حق اليتيم، وأنزل تشريعات في ذلك ووصى بها عباده.
فقال: (وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ) النساء 4: 36.
1. The Source of the Definition | مصدر التعريف
Ali ibn Abi Talib said: I memorized from the Messenger of Allah: There is no orphanhood after puberty, and no silence for a whole day until night (Sunan Abi Dawud 2873, graded sahih by al-Albani). The definition in the answer, a child who lost his father before puberty, rests on this hadith that Ali narrated from the Prophet.
قال علي بن أبي طالب رضي الله عنه: "حفظت عن رسول الله ﷺ: لا يتم بعد احتلام، ولا صمات يوم إلى الليل" (سنن أبي داود 2873، وصححه الألباني). فالتعريف الذي ذكره الجواب، من فقد أباه قبل البلوغ، مستند إلى هذا الحديث الذي رواه علي عن النبي ﷺ.
2. Handing Over the Orphan's Wealth | متى يدفع إلى اليتيم ماله
When Najdah asked Ibn Abbas when an orphan's orphanhood ends, he wrote: a man may grow a beard and still be weak in taking for himself and giving from himself; when he takes for himself the sound things people take, his orphanhood has ended (Sahih Muslim 1812). Allah ties handing over the orphan's wealth to reaching marriageable age together with sound judgment (An-Nisa 4:6).
وَابْتَلُوا الْيَتَامَىٰ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغُوا النِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ آنَسْتُم مِّنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَادْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ (سورة النساء: 6)
كتب نجدة إلى ابن عباس يسأله: متى ينقضي يتم اليتيم؟ فكتب إليه: "فلعمري إن الرجل لتنبت لحيته وإنه لضعيف الأخذ لنفسه ضعيف العطاء منها، فإذا أخذ لنفسه من صالح ما يأخذ الناس فقد ذهب عنه اليتم" (صحيح مسلم 1812). وقد علق الله دفع مال اليتيم إليه ببلوغ النكاح مع إيناس الرشد (النساء 4:6).
3. The Prophet Was an Orphan | النبي ﷺ نشأ يتيما
Allah reminded His Prophet: Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter? (Ad-Duha 93:6), then commanded: so as for the orphan, do not oppress him (93:9). The one who knew orphanhood himself was sent with the duty to honor orphans.
فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ (سورة الضحى: 9)
ذكر الله تعالى نبيه ﷺ بقوله: ألم يجدك يتيما فآوى (الضحى 93:6)، ثم أمره: فأما اليتيم فلا تقهر (الضحى 93:9). فمن عرف اليتم بنفسه أمر بإكرام الأيتام.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Who is considered an orphan in Islam?
A child who lost his father before puberty, as the answer defines, based on the hadith: there is no orphanhood after puberty (Sunan Abi Dawud 2873).
Does a person remain an orphan for life?
No. Ali narrated from the Prophet that there is no orphanhood after puberty, though the guardian keeps the orphan's wealth until he shows sound judgment (An-Nisa 4:6).
When is an orphan given his wealth?
When he reaches marriageable age and shows sound judgment (An-Nisa 4:6). Ibn Abbas wrote that orphanhood ends when he can take for himself as sensible people do (Sahih Muslim 1812).
What is the duty toward orphans?
Allah commands kindness to orphans together with His worship and kindness to parents (An-Nisa 4:36), and says: as for the orphan, do not oppress him (Ad-Duha 93:9).