Orphan Care in Islam (Kafaalat al-Yatim)

The care of orphans (yatama) is one of the most emphasized themes in the Quran, mentioned over twenty times. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was himself an orphan, having lost his father before birth and his mother at age six, giving him a lifelong sensitivity to the vulnerability of parentless children. He said: "I and the one who sponsors an orphan will be in Paradise like these two," and he held up his index and middle fingers close together (Sahih al-Bukhari). This hadith places the orphan's caretaker in the closest proximity to the Prophet in the highest abode.

Quranic Commands

The Quran contains numerous commands regarding orphans. "And they ask you about orphans. Say: Improvement for them is best. And if you mix your affairs with theirs, they are your brothers" (Quran 2:220). "Give orphans their property, and do not substitute the defective for the good, and do not consume their properties into your own. Indeed, that is a great sin" (Quran 4:2). "Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming fire into their bellies, and they will be burned in a Blaze" (Quran 4:10). The severe warning against mismanaging an orphan's wealth shows the gravity with which Islam treats this responsibility.

The Prophet's Concern

The Prophet demonstrated concern for orphans throughout his life. He would stroke the orphan's head with kindness. He instructed: "If you want to soften your heart, feed the poor and pat the head of the orphan" (Musnad Ahmad). He forbade mistreating orphans and harshly reprimanded those who did so: "Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense? That is the one who drives away the orphan" (Quran 107:1-2). In early Islamic society, orphans were integrated into households and cared for as family members. The concept of kafaalah (sponsorship/guardianship) is the Islamic model for orphan care.

Kafaalah vs. Adoption

Islam prohibits the specific practice of changing an orphan's family name and lineage (tabanni), which was the pre-Islamic form of adoption: "Call them by the names of their fathers. That is more just in the sight of Allah" (Quran 33:5). However, Islam strongly encourages kafaalah (sponsoring/fostering), which involves taking full responsibility for the orphan's care, education, and upbringing while maintaining their biological identity. The kafil (sponsor) receives enormous reward from Allah. The child retains their biological family name, which preserves their identity, inheritance rights from their biological family, and marriage eligibility rules (the foster child is not a mahram to the sponsor's biological children unless breastfed as an infant by the same woman).

Institutional Care

Throughout Islamic history, Muslim societies established institutions for orphan care. The waqf system funded orphanages, schools, and stipends for parentless children. The Abbasid, Mamluk, and Ottoman states all maintained orphan care programs. In modern times, Muslim charities worldwide sponsor millions of orphans. The Islamic framework for orphan care combines individual responsibility (encouraging Muslim families to sponsor orphans), community obligation (ensuring no orphan is neglected), and institutional support (waqf-funded care facilities). The goal is always the orphan's well-being, dignity, and integration into a loving environment.