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Fatwa CenterThe Virtue of Sponsoring the Orphan
Question
What is the reward of sponsoring the orphans and raising them?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Clarifying the categories of people that are more worthy of spending and charities, Almighty Allah says (what means):
· {They ask you [O Muhammad] what they should spend. Say: Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.} [Quran 2: 215]
· {Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess.} [Quran 4: 36]
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah 
that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
The person who looks after and supports the widow and the needy one is like the mujahid (one who makes jihad) in the Cause of Allah (or he said: like him who offers voluntary prayer throughout the night and observes voluntary fast on all days). [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The orphan is usually from among the needy people.
It was narrated on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa‘d that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “I and the sponsor of an orphan will be like this in Paradise, and he gestured with his index and middle fingers.” [Al-Bukhari]
Is there a better position than this?
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Ad-Darda’ that a man came to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, complaining of his hardheartedness. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to him, “Would you like your heart to be soft and to fulfill your need?’ He replied, “Yes.” The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “Show mercy to the orphan, wipe over his head, and feed him from your food; it will soften your heart and you will fulfill your need.” [At-Tabarani; Al-Albaani: authentic]
There are many other hadiths that indicate the virtue of sponsoring the orphan and being kind to him. This is a gate to goodness that Allah opens for people. Whoever is capable should hasten to good-doing.
Allah knows best.
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