Lesson 59

Kinship, Poor and Orphans

Linking blood relationships:

It is like the polite manners towards parents and children; revering the old

and treating the young tenderly.

Linking blood relationships is part of faith. The Arabic word Ar-Rahim

(uterus, i.e. blood relation) is derived from Allah's Name Ar-Rahman

(The All-Merciful).

Linking blood relationships is done through:

- visiting each other,

- giving charity, and

- advice.

Be keen to maintain ties with one’s family. even if they try to cut these relations,

show patience and do not give offence.

Blood relationships are only to be cut with unbelievers (other than parents)

or sinners, while praying to Allah for their guidance and forgiveness.

   Caring for the poor:

Money is the wealth of Allah and the wealthy person is Allah's successor of

what He has bestowed upon him.

The poor have a definite rightin the wealth of the rich.

Only money spent on the poor or in any form of charity

is what remains after our death.

Feeding the poor is an expiation of some sins such as violation of one’s oath,

game hunting while being in the confines of the Haram (sanctuary), injurious

assimilation (of wife to mother) (Zhihar), and breaking one’s fast during daytime

in Ramadan .

Feeding the poor is a means to enter Paradise.

The Prophet (SAWS) was an excellent example of generosity with the poor.

Guardianship of orphans:

It is highly recommended

in the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Islam repeatedly warns about the serious nature of the sin of exploiting

an orphan’s wealth for other than their interest.

Islam calls for protecting and investing the orphans' wealth with beneficence,

until they are at an age where they can manage it responsibly.

Evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah

Linking blood relationships:

Allah says:

ل� ي�وص� نأ� به الله� ر� م�

أ� ا م� ل�ون� ي�ص ال�ذين� و�وء� س� اف�ون� ي�خ� و� م� ب�ه� ر� و�ن� ي�خ�ش� و�

اب ال�حس� : [21الرعد]

This means:

“Those who join that which Allah has commanded to be joined (i.e. they are good to their relatives and do not sever the bond of kinship), fear their

Lord, and dread the terrible reckoning (i.e. abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds

which Allah has forbidden and perform all kinds of good deeds which Allah has ordained).”

(Ar-Ra`d: 21)

Allah says:

د�وا س ت�ف� أ�ن ل�ي�ت�م� ت�و� إن ي�ت�م ع�س� ل� ه� ف�ض ر�

األ� فيك�م� ام� ح� ر�

أ� ط0ع�وا ت�ق�     و�

: [22محمد]

This means:

“Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and

sever your ties of kinship?”

(Muhammad: 22)

Allah says:

اب�ن� و� كين� وال�مس� ه� ق� ح� ب�ى ر� ال�ق� ذ�ا آت ف�بيل : الس� [38الروم]

This means:

“So give to the kindred his due, and to Al Miskin (the poor) and to the wayfarer.”

(Ar-Rum: 38)

Allah says:

9ب�ع�ضب ل�ى و�أ� م� ه� ب�ع�ض� ام ح� ر�

األ� ل�وا و�أ� و�

الله ... كت�اب : في [75األنفال]

This means:

“But kindred by blood are nearer to one another regarding inheritance in the

decree ordained by Allah.”

(Al-Anfal: 75)

Allah says:

ام� ح� ر�و�األ� به اء�ل�ون� ت�س� ال�ذي الله� وا ات�ق� و�

: [1النساء]

This means:

“And fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the

relations of) the wombs (kinship).”

(An-Nisa’: 1)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“And the one who believes in Allah and the Last Day should tie his kinship.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “That who recompenses the good done to

him by some one (relative) is not the one who upholds the ties of relationship.

It is he who keeps good relations with those relatives who cut asunder the bond

of kinship with him.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“He who likes to be granted more provision, and his life be prolonged,

let him tie his kith and kin.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“Charity towards a poor one is counted as charity, and towards a relation is both

charity and keeping blood relationships.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrated that a man said to the Messenger of Allah (SAWS):

“I have relatives with whom I try to maintain ties of relationship, but they sever their relations with me; whom I treat kindly but they treat me badly, with whom I am gentle but who are

rough to me.”

He replied, “If you are as you say, it is as if you are applying hot ashes to them (they will bear the results of such bad conduct) and you will not be without a supporter against them from Allah as long as you

do so.” (Reported by Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said :“Ar-Rahim (the uterus, the ties of relationship) is suspending from the

Throne (of Allah) saying: He who keeps good relations with me, Allah will keep

good ties with him, but he who ever severs relations with me, Allah will sever

the ties with him.” (Reported by Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Allah created the creations and when He accomplished His creations, Ar-Rahim (the

uterus, kinship) said: (O Allah) at this place I seek refuge with You from all those who sever me (sever the ties of kith and kin). Allah said: Yes. Are you not satisfied that I should keep ties with him who keeps you united and sever

connection with him who severs you?” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said :

“Allah, the Exalted, has said: I am Ar-Rahman (the Most Compassionate).

I created Ar-Rahim (the uterus). I have derived its name from My name. If anyone joins it,

I shall join him, and if anyone cuts it off, I shall cut him off.”

(Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

Caring for the poor:

Allah says:

يه ف ين� ل�ف ت�خ� م?س� ع�ل�ك�م ج� ا م� م وا ق� نفأ� و�

: [7الحديد]

This means:

“And spend of that whereof He has made you trustees.”

(Al-Hadid: 7)

Allah says:

* Bع�ل�وم م� Cق ح� م� اله و� م�أ� في ال�ذين� و�

وم ر� ال�م�ح� و� ائل للس� : [25، 24المعارج]

This means: “And those in whose wealth there is a known

right, For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and

wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened).”

(Al-Ma`arij: 24 - 25)

Allah says:

و� و�ه� ه� لف� ي�خ� و� ه� ف� ء9 ي� ش� م0ن ت�م ق� نف�أ� ا و�م�

ين� ازق الر� ي�ر� خ� : [.39سبأ]

This means:

“And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah's Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.”

(Saba’: 39)

Allah says:

نك�م� م ن�ريد� ال� الله ه لو�ج� ك�م� ن�ط�عم� ا ن�م� إب0ن�ا * ر� من اف� ن�خ� ن�ا إ N ك�ورا ش� و�ال� Nاء ز� ج�

الله� * اه�م� و�ق� ف� Nيرام�ط�ر ق� ا Nع�ب�وس ا Nي�و�م N ورا ر� و�س� Nة ر� ن�ض� اه�م� ل�ق� و� ال�ي�و�م ذ�لك� ر�   ش�

: [11-9اإلنسان]

This means:

“We feed you seeking Allah's Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks

from you. Verily, We fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make

the faces look horrible (from extreme dislikeness to it).

So Allah saved them from the evil of that Day, and gave them a light of beauty and

joy.”

(Al-Insan: 9 - 11)

The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) said:

“O son of Adam! You say: My property, my property. Have you anything but what you eat and use up or wear and

make threadbare or give in charity and execute it?”

(Reported by Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said :

“O people, exchange greetings of peace (i.e., say: As-Salamu `Alaykum to one

another), feed people, strengthen the ties of kinship, and be in prayer when others

are asleep, (in return) you will enter Paradise in peace.”

(Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

Anas Ibn Malik (RA) narrated:

“Whenever a person begged anything from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in Islam, he (the Prophet) would

fulfill his demand. (Once) a man came to him (begging) and the Prophet gave him

a herd of sheep scattered between the two mountains.

When he returned to his people, he said to them: O my people! Enter the fold of Islam because Muhammad (peace be

upon him) gives so much just as a person who has no fear of poverty and need.”

(Reported by Muslim)

Guardianship of orphans:

Allah says:

ر� ه� ت�ق� ال� ف� ال�ي�تيم� ا م�أ� ف�

: [9الضحى]

This means:

“Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression.” (Ad-Duha: 9)

Allah says:

* يال�ذ ذ�لك� ف� بالد0ين ي�ك�ذ0ب� ال�ذي ي�ت�� أ ر�� أ

ال�ي�تيم� ي�د�ع? : [2-1الماعون]

This means:

“Have you seen him who denies the Recompense? That is he who repulses the

orphan (harshly).”

(Al-Ma`un: 1 - 2)

Allah says:

ت�ت�ب�د�ل�وا وال م� ال�ه� و� م�أ� ال�ي�ت�ام�ى وآت�وا

م� ال�ه� و� م�أ� ت�أ�ك�ل�وا و�ال� بالط�ي0ب بيث� الخ�

N ك�بيرا وبNا ح� ك�ان� ن�ه� إ الك�م� و� م�أ� ل�ى إ

: [2النساء]

This means: “And give unto orphans their property and

do not exchange (your) bad things for (their) good ones; and devour not their

substance (by adding it) to your substance. Surely, this is a great sin.”

(An-Nisa’: 2)

Allah says:

ا Nظ�ل�م ال�ي�ت�ام�ى و�ال� م�أ� ي�أ�ك�ل�ون� ال�ذين� إن�

N ن�ارا م� ب�ط�ونه في ك�ل�ون�ي�أ� ا ن�م� إ

N عيرا س� ل�و�ن� ي�ص� و�س� : [10النساء]

This means:

“Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, they eat up only a fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in

the blazing Fire!”

(An-Nisa’: 10)

Sahl Ibn Sa`d (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“He who takes care of an orphan and I will be in Paradise like these two (fingers). He raised his forefinger and middle finger by

way of illustration.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said, "Paradise is absolutely certain for the one who (regularly) joins an orphan of

Muslim parents (to his meals) until he is self-sufficient".

(Reported by Ahmad)

When a man complained to the Messenger of Allah of being hardhearted he (SAWS) said, "If you desire to make your heart tender

then feed the poor and pat the head of the orphan."

(Reported by Ahmad)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“Whoever passes his hand over the head of an orphan (out of kindness) only for the sake of Allah will have a virtue recorded

to his credit for every single hair his hand passes over.”

(Reported by Ahmad)

The Prophet (SAWS) said, "He who sustains three orphans is like someone who stands his nights praying, fasts his days and is out fighting in the Cause of Allah. He and I are brothers

like these (together) in Paradise (and he joined his ring and middle fingers

together).“ (Reported by Ibn-Majah)

The Messenger (SAWS) said:

“The best house (in a Muslim community) is that in which there is an orphan who is

well-treated, and the worst (of their houses) is the one in which there is an

orphan who is maltreated.”

(Reported by Ibn-Majah)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Avoid the seven deadly things. It was said: What

are they, Messenger of Allah? He replied: Associating anything with Allah, practicing

sorcery, killing one whom Allah has declared inviolable without a just cause, devouring the

property of an orphan, devouring usury, fleeing from the battlefield, and accusing the

pious women with adultery.”(Reported by al-Bukhariyy)