World Orphan Day

𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑶𝒓𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌- 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒏  𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅… . At school I struggled to read Oliver Twist - it was the first time I really reflected on the life of an orphan. Though a fiction, it drew from life’s realities where children were sent to workhouses; places for neglected children, often unsafe, with no hope of receiving affection or kind words. Still today, in a conflict ridden world (and  amongst the stable affluent), the neglect persists for many, albeit in its own terrible shape and forms. 

So imagine then coming across the Prophet’sﷺ teachings from 1400 years ago, an orphan himself who said;

“... I and the orphan’s guardian will be in heaven like these two," (indicating his two fingers.) [Adhab Al Mufrad]

This and other incidents give a snapshot into the day to day lives this incredible social reform brought to a community, encouraging the good treatment of orphans, ensuring the weakest in the society are cared for and protected.

Where Abu Bakr Ibn Hafs said that 'Abdullah Ibn Umar(ra) would not eat unless an orphan was at his table.’[Adhab Al Mufrad].

The wife of the Prophetﷺ, Aisha(ra) had orphans in her care (children of her deceased brother) and loved them as a mother would. [ Adhab Al Mufrad]

Even those not directly about orphans but nonetheless can open one’s eyes to their obvious visibility, inclusion in life and wellbeing:

Anas Ibn Malik (ra) said:

 "The Messenger of Allahﷺ came to our house and I prayed with an orphan of ours behind him, and Umm Sulaim prayed behind us."[Nasai]

All these above are but glimpses into the lives of a society at large that helped in whatever capacity; from those who stepped into the shoes of guardians if they could to those who at the least made duas and softened their hearts with kindness to ‘𝐩𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝,‘ of an orphan. They followed  the Prophetﷺ whose kindness and clemency towards the weak was his outstanding characteristic making him an empathetic, strong leader and protector. It was a society with duty at all levels from leadership down to ensure every aspect of an orphan’s welfare was met from emotional needs, their dignity, education and safety to their financial stability.🌙

𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 of 𝗦.𝗡.𝗝𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶 ✍🏼 (𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, Islamic chapter books for kids📚) 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀  📚