Caring for orphans is an honoured deed in Islam. Orphans are mentioned 22 times in the Al-Quran. Mistreating orphans is a serious sin, while nurturing them is an immensely good deed. Of the many members of society, orphans are among the most vulnerable.
Below are some blessings of sponsoring an orphan that is beneficial both in this life and the hereafter:
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w taught us in his Last Sermon given on Hajj, that all human beings are equal in status, ‘except in piety and good deeds’.
To achieve a high status in the eyes of Allah, we are dependent on our righteous actions, and one honoured way is by gifting an orphan with new opportunities in life.
Sponsoring orphans is particularly dear to the Prophet Muhammad’s s.a.w. heart. The Prophet was also an orphan – his father passed away before he was born while his mother passed away when he was only 6 years old.
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said: “The one who cares for an orphan and myself will be together in Paradise like this,” and the Prophet s.a.w held his two fingers together to illustrate. (Bukhari)
From this we can see; you don’t have to be one of the close Companions of the Prophet, or stand in prayer all night or give away all your wealth. By doing one honoured deed – sponsoring one Orphan – you will be able to attain this high status.
Ultimately when it comes down to what matters, the ‘best house’ is not defined by materialistic definitions like its property value, the expensive deco or the renovations. Rather, the best home is one that is built with love, where you feel at home and are well-treated. Also, a home which shows care and concern for orphans.
In present COVID-19 times especially, we are all spending more time at home, or in self-quarantine. Hence, we should strive to make our homes blessed places where angels gather.
In Surah Al-Insan (76:8-10), Allah s.w.t. describes people who give food to orphans and the underprivileged for His sake:
“And they give food, in spite of love for it, to the needy, the orphan, and the captive. [Saying], “We feed you only for the face [i.e. approval] of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude. Indeed, We fear from our Lord a Day austere and distressful.” (76:8-10)
As a reward for this good action, Allah promises in the last verses of Surah Al-Insan:
“So Allah will protect them from the evil of that Day and give them radiance and happiness. And will reward them for what they patiently endured [with] a garden [in Paradise] and silk [garments]. [They will be] reclining therein on adorned couches. They will not see therein any [burning] sun or [freezing] cold. And near above them are its shades, and its [fruit] to be picked will be lowered in compliance. (76:11-14)
Simply by giving food to orphans, Allah will reward us with the richness of Jannah – one of it being the food of Jannah – multiplying what we have given, many times over.
With the growing instability of the pandemic year, most of us are financially affected. We may consciously or not, give less charity. Hence, it’s no surprise that we feel that we cannot afford to part with what we have, that we may not be able to be generous in an unstable circumstance.
But we tend to forget – the power of charity is that it never decreases your wealth. Rather, giving has more barakah, and we will never know how the little we give may return to us in ten folds.
Giving charity not only blesses the wealth that we have, it also increases it – for only Allah s.w.t. is in control of our Rezeki. Giving to those who really need it is a honourable way of expressing your trust in Allah.
Insya-Allah, you will continue to gain reward for your honourable deed, long after you have stopped sponsoring your orphan. For every time they benefit from something that they learned in school, you will be rewarded. Every time they make dua for you, you will get the blessings.
The scale of these rewards is immeasurable. Who knows what your Orphan will be able to accomplish in the future, who they will teach, how many lives they will change?
Sponsoring an orphan is more than helping them out on a one-off charity, it goes beyond that. Your charity can be an important lifeline for a child in need.
By sponsoring an orphan, you will be able to protect them from the brutal effects of hunger and malnutrition, and provide them a life that they might not otherwise have known. You could potentially be saving their life.
We hope that this article has inspired you! Your good deed will transform an orphan’s life, and the extent of the rewards are immeasurable, both for you and the one receiving your charity. Over 500,000 orphans worldwide are currently in need of support.
You can sponsor an orphan through our core project, providing them with food, basic necessities, education, practical skills and health care. Join us in providing a better life and more opportunities for these orphans.
