The short answer
Caring for orphans is one of the most rewarded deeds in Islam: the Prophet ﷺ said that he and the one who looks after an orphan will be together in Paradise like two joined fingers. Their property is strictly protected, and those who consume it unjustly are described as eating fire.
The Prophet ﷺ was himself an orphan, and Allah reminds him, "So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him]" 1. The Quran even describes the one who "drives away the orphan" and does not encourage feeding the poor as someone who denies the Recompense 2.
The reward. "I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this," he said, holding up his index and middle fingers together 3. Sponsoring an orphan's needs, fostering, mentoring and simply being present in their lives all belong to this.
Their wealth is sacred. "Those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire" 4. Consuming an orphan's wealth is among the seven destructive sins 5. Guardians are told to give orphans their property, not to swap their own inferior goods for the orphan's good ones 6, to test their maturity and hand over their property when they are ready, and, if the guardian is poor, to take only what is reasonable for his work 7.
Treat them as family. When the Companions asked about mixing their affairs with orphans in their care, Allah said, "Improvement for them is best. And if you mix your affairs with theirs - they are your brothers" 8.
Practical ways to act: sponsor an orphan through a trustworthy charity, support orphans in your extended family, and if you manage an orphan's inheritance, keep careful records and invest it prudently for them.
Allah found the Prophet ﷺ an orphan and sheltered him; so do not oppress the orphan.
أَلَمۡ يَجِدۡكَ يَتِيمࣰ ا فَـَٔاوَىٰ ٦ وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلࣰّ ا فَهَدَىٰ ٧ وَوَجَدَكَ عَآئِلࣰ ا فَأَغۡنَىٰ ٨ فَأَمَّا ٱلۡيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقۡهَرۡ ٩
6 Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge 7 And He found you lost and guided [you] 8 And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient 9 So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him]
The one who drives away the orphan and does not urge feeding the poor denies the Recompense.
أَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِٱلدِّينِ ١ فَذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِي يَدُعُّ ٱلۡيَتِيمَ ٢ وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ ٣
1 Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense 2 For that is the one who drives away the orphan 3 And does not encourage the feeding of the poor
The one who looks after and provides for an orphan will be with the Prophet ﷺ in Paradise like two fingers.
Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this," putting his index and middle fingers together
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، سَمِعْتُ سَهْلَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ، فِي الْجَنَّةِ هَكَذَا ". وَقَالَ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ السَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى.
Those who unjustly devour orphans' property are filling their bellies with fire.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأۡكُلُونَ أَمۡوَٰلَ ٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ ظُلۡمًا إِنَّمَا يَأۡكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمۡ نَارࣰ اۖ وَسَيَصۡلَوۡنَ سَعِيرࣰ ا ١٠
Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a Blaze
Consuming an orphan's wealth is one of the seven destructive sins.
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Avoid the seven great destructive sins." The people enquired, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What are they?" He said, "To join others in worship along with Allah, to practice sorcery, to kill the life which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause, (according to Islamic law), to eat up Riba (usury), to eat up an orphan's wealth, to give back to the enemy and fleeing from the battlefield at the time of fighting, and to accuse, chaste women, who never even think of anything touching chastity and are good believers
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلاَلٍ، عَنْ ثَوْرِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ الْمَدَنِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي الْغَيْثِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " اجْتَنِبُوا السَّبْعَ الْمُوبِقَاتِ ". قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، وَمَا هُنَّ قَالَ " الشِّرْكُ بِاللَّهِ، وَالسِّحْرُ، وَقَتْلُ النَّفْسِ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ، وَأَكْلُ الرِّبَا، وَأَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ، وَالتَّوَلِّي يَوْمَ الزَّحْفِ، وَقَذْفُ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ الْغَافِلاَتِ ".
Give orphans their property and do not swap your bad for their good.
وَءَاتُواْ ٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰٓ أَمۡوَٰلَهُمۡۖ وَلَا تَتَبَدَّلُواْ ٱلۡخَبِيثَ بِٱلطَّيِّبِۖ وَلَا تَأۡكُلُوٓاْ أَمۡوَٰلَهُمۡ إِلَىٰٓ أَمۡوَٰلِكُمۡۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حُوبࣰ ا كَبِيرࣰ ا ٢
And give to the orphans their properties and do not substitute the defective [of your own] for the good [of theirs]. And do not consume their properties into your own. Indeed, that is ever a great sin
Hand over their property at maturity; a poor guardian takes only what is reasonable.
وَٱبۡتَلُواْ ٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغُواْ ٱلنِّكَاحَ فَإِنۡ ءَانَسۡتُم مِّنۡهُمۡ رُشۡدࣰ ا فَٱدۡفَعُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِمۡ أَمۡوَٰلَهُمۡۖ وَلَا تَأۡكُلُوهَآ إِسۡرَافࣰ ا وَبِدَارًا أَن يَكۡبَرُواْۚ وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيࣰّ ا فَلۡيَسۡتَعۡفِفۡۖ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرࣰ ا فَلۡيَأۡكُلۡ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعۡتُمۡ إِلَيۡهِمۡ أَمۡوَٰلَهُمۡ فَأَشۡهِدُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبࣰ ا ٦
And test the orphans [in their abilities] until they reach marriageable age. Then if you perceive in them sound judgement, release their property to them. And do not consume it excessively and quickly, [anticipating] that they will grow up. And whoever, [when acting as guardian], is self-sufficient should refrain [from taking a fee]; and whoever is poor - let him take according to what is acceptable. Then when you release their property to them, bring witnesses upon them. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant
Improving orphans' affairs is best; if you mix your affairs with theirs, they are your brothers.
فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۗ وَيَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰۖ قُلۡ إِصۡلَاحࣱ لَّهُمۡ خَيۡرࣱۖ وَإِن تُخَالِطُوهُمۡ فَإِخۡوَٰنُكُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُصۡلِحِۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَعۡنَتَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمࣱ ٢٢٠
To this world and the Hereafter. And they ask you about orphans. Say, "Improvement for them is best. And if you mix your affairs with theirs - they are your brothers. And Allah knows the corrupter from the amender. And if Allah had willed, He could have put you in difficulty. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise
This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24