Our future is the children, but what about those children who don’t have any parents to guide, love and support them?

While volunteering at Erbil’s orphanage center, I had an opportunity to take a closer look at what a child experiences when a parent passes away and end up living at orphanages. In almost all cases the lives of children are immediately characterized by economic hardship, withdrawal from school, great psychological distress, loss of family possessions and inheritance. Moreover, they become vulnerable and open to abuse, malnutrition and illness, stigma, discrimination and isolation.

There are various verses in the Noble Quran and sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that explain why we must show love and compassion towards children that have been orphaned. These verses and sayings are also clear on making sure that the rights, dignity and property of orphans are ensured, respected and maintained in their best interests.

Allah says:

"So as for the orphans, do not oppress them, and as for beggars, do not berate them," (93:9-10) and the Almighty says, "Have you seen him who denies the deen? He is the one who harshly rebuffs the orphan and does not urge the feeding of the poor." (107:1-3).

"Treat not the orphan with harshness," (93: 9)Creating a sense of responsibility towards orphans, Almighty Allah says:

"They ask you, (O Muhammad), what they shall spend. Say: that which you spend for good (must go) to parents and near kindred and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. And whatsoever good you do, lo! Allah is Aware of it." (2: 215)

The affinity between the orphan and the Prophet(peace and blessings be upon him)is expressed with great clarity in the following hadith:

"I, and the one who looks after an orphan, will be together like this in the next world", then he (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his index and middle fingers together. (Muslim)

My dear family and friends, the holy month of Ramadan has started and there’s no better time than now to give zakat (charity) or sadaqah to the orphans. Please help me raise money for these poor orphans. BY GIVING SOMETHING SMALL IS BETTER THAN GIVING NOTHING AT ALL.

Jazakum Allahu Khairan Insha’Allah. J