The laws related to orphans were revealed in the 4th year of Hijrah (4 A.H). Islam gives special attention to the care and rights of orphans. These laws are mainly found in Surah An-Nisa, where Allah provides detailed guidance about managing the wealth, property, and well-being of orphans.
An orphan in Islam is a child who has lost their father and needs protection and support from the community. The Quran encourages kindness, justice, and responsibility when dealing with orphans. Misusing their wealth or treating them unfairly is considered a serious sin.
The verses in Surah An-Nisa teach that if someone is entrusted with an orphan’s property, they must manage it carefully, without mixing it with their own. When the orphan reaches maturity and is capable of managing their own property, their wealth should be returned in full.
Islam also encourages Muslims to marry orphans if they can support them properly and treat them fairly, as seen in the early verses of Surah An-Nisa. Fairness and justice in dealing with orphans is repeated in multiple places in the Quran to show its importance.
These laws were revealed during a time when the Muslim society in Madina was being structured with social and legal systems. The protection of weak and vulnerable groups, like orphans, was a key part of that system.
Islam aims to build a caring and just community, and the protection of orphans is a direct example of that goal. Caring for orphans is not only a legal responsibility but also a spiritual and moral duty in Islam, with great rewards promised for those who fulfill it properly.
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