Rights of Orphans and Compassion
The Islamic faith encourages being merciful and just towards orphans. Protecting the rights of orphans, showing them love and compassion is essential for societal peace and earning Allah's pleasure. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that treating orphans well and respecting their rights would lead to entering Paradise. The protection and care of orphans is one of the fundamental values of the Islamic community, and there are many authentic hadiths on this matter. These hadiths remind Muslims of their responsibilities towards orphans and encourage them in this regard.
أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ هَكَذَا - وَأَشَارَ بِالسَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى وَفَرَّجَ بَيْنَهُمَا قَلِيلًا
"I and the one who takes care of an orphan will be like this in Paradise - he indicated with his index and middle fingers and slightly separated them."
The one who takes care of orphans will be in close proximity to our Prophet in Paradise.
مَنْ مَسَحَ رَأْسَ يَتِيمٍ لَمْ يَمْسَحْهُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ كَانَ لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَعْرَةٍ مَرَّتْ عَلَيْهَا يَدُهُ حَسَنَةٌ
"Whoever strokes the head of an orphan for the sake of Allah, for every hair that his hand touches, he will earn a good deed."
Showing love to orphans leads to great rewards in the sight of Allah.
خَيْرُ بَيْتٍ فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ بَيْتٌ فِيهِ يَتِيمٌ يُحْسَنُ إِلَيْهِ وَشَرُّ بَيْتٍ فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ بَيْتٌ فِيهِ يَتِيمٌ يُسَاءُ إِلَيْهِ
"The best house among Muslims is the house where an orphan is treated well. The worst house is the one where an orphan is treated poorly."
Treating orphans well makes a house the best in the sight of Allah.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ الْيَتَامَى ظُلْمًا إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًا
"Indeed, those who consume the wealth of orphans unjustly are only filling their bellies with fire, and they will enter a blazing fire."
Unjustly taking the property of orphans is a great sin and leads to punishment in the Hereafter.
مَنْ ضَمَّ يَتِيمًا بَيْنَ مُسْلِمِينَ فِي طَعَامِهِ وَشَرَابِهِ حَتَّى يُغْنِيَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ الْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَعْمَلَ ذَنْبًا لَا يُغْفَرُ لَهُ
"Whoever shelters an orphan among Muslims in his food and drink until Allah enriches him, Allah makes Paradise obligatory for him, unless he commits an unforgivable sin."
Caring for orphans is one of the ways to attain Paradise.