قال الله تعالى: {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ الْيَتَامَىٰ ظُلْمًا إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا ۖ وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًا} (النساء: 10)

Allah, the Most High, says, {Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans eat up fire into their own bodies: they will soon be enduring a blazing fire.} (Al-Nisa': 10)

قال الله تعالى أيضًا: {وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ} (الأنعام: 152)

The Qur'an also states, {Come not nigh to the orphan's property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength.} (Al-Imran: 152)

قال النبي ﷺ: «لَمَّا عُرِجَ بِي رَأَيْتُ رِجَالًا تَشَقَّقَتْ أَشْدَاقُهُمْ تَحْتَ إِكْرَاهِ رِجَالٍ آخَرِينَ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُونَ يُطْعِمُونَهُمْ حِجَارَةً مِنْ نَارٍ تَنْفُذُ فِي أَجْسَادِهِمْ وَتَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَدْبَارِهِمْ، فَتَعَجَّبْتُ وَقُلْتُ: مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ يَا جِبْرِيلُ؟ فَقَالَ: هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ الْيَتَامَى ظُلْمًا، إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا».1

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "When I was taken up in Ascent (Mi'raj) I saw some men gapping their jaws under the coercion of other men. Then came another men who fed them stones of fire that penetrated their bodies and came out from their anus. I wondered: 'Who are they, Gabriel?' He replied, 'They are those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans eat up a fire intotheir bodies.”1

رُوِيَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَبْعَثُ مِنْ قُبُورِهِمْ قَوْمًا تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَجْسَادِهِمُ النَّارُ تَلَهَّبُ، فَتُحْرِقُ وُجُوهَهُمْ». قِيلَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ: مَنْ هُمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ فَقَالَ ﷺ: قَالَ اللَّهُ الْعَزِيزُ: ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ الْيَتَامَىٰ ظُلْمًا إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا ۖ وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًا﴾ (النساء: ١٠)2

It was related that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "Allah, Most High resurrected some people from their graves with fire flaming out from their bodies and burning their faces." The Prophet was asked: 'Who are they, Messenger of Allah?" He said,' Allah, the Almighty says, {Those who unjustly will eat up the property of orphans eat up a fire into their own bodies: they will soon be enduring a blazing fire.} (AI-Nisa': 10)2

قال السُّدِّيُّ، رضي الله عنه: «يُبعَثُ آكلُ مالِ اليتيم يومَ القيامة وتخرجُ من فيهِ وأذنيهِ وأنفِه وعينيهِ شُعلٌ من نارٍ، فيُعرَفُ بذلك». (اتُّهم إسماعيلُ بنُ عبدِ الرحمنِ السُّدِّيُّ بمتابعةِ الشيعة.)

As-Sadiy, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "On the Day of Judgement, the one who appropriated an orphan's property will be resurrected with the flames of fire coming out from his mouth, ears, nose and eyes. Therefore, he will be well-identified." (Isma'il Ibn AbdelRahman As-Sadiy was accused of following the Shi'ah sect.)

قال العلماء: لا حرج على الوصيّ الفقير على اليتيم أن يأكل شيئاً من مال يتيمه بالمعروف، بقدر ما يتولّى فيه أمره ويُصلح به شؤون تجارته، دون أن يتجاوز ما هو مباح.

Scholars said that there is no harm if a poor guardian of an orphan consumes some of his charge's property without exceeding what is permissible as much as he disposes and improves his business affairs.

ما يزيد على المباح فهو حرام قطعاً (سُحت)؟ يقول الله تعالى: {وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُوا عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ حَسِيبًا} (النساء: 6)

What is in excess of the permissible is absolutely unlawful (Suht)? Allah, the Almighty says, {If the guardian is well-off, let him claim no remuneration, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just, reasonable. When ye release their property then, take witnesses in their presence: But all-sufficient is Allah in taking account.} (An-Nisa': 6)

إنّ الأكلَ المعروفَ من مالِ اليتيمِ يمكنُ تفسيرُه بأحدِ المعاني التالية: أن يقصدَ القرضَ، وأن يقتاتَ بقدرِ حاجتِه دونَ إسرافٍ، وأن يأخذَ أجرةَ القيامِ على شؤونِ مالِ اليتيمِ أو إصلاحِ تجارتِه، وأن ينويَ ردَّ ما أخذَه عندَ الحاجةِ إذا أيسرَ. وقد ذكرَ ابنُ الجوزيِّ هذه الأقوالَ المختلفةَ في تفسيرِه.

Reasonable consuming of an orphan's property may be interpreted as: Intending the loan, fulfilling his own needs without excess, taking the wage of disposing or improving the orphan's business or intending to return what he takes out of need, if he becomes prosperous. These different points of views are mentioned by Ibn AI-Jawziy in his Tafsir (exegesis)

"أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ كَهَاتَيْنِ" وَأَشَارَ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ السَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى وَفَرَّجَ بَيْنَهُمَا شَيْئًا. ﷺ (تَوْضِيحًا لِلْمَعْنَى). [1]

"I and one who takes care of an orphan, will enter paradise together like this" and he raised his forefinger and middle finger jointly leaving no space betWeen them (by way of illustration)." 1

"أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ، لَهُ أَوْ لِغَيْرِهِ، فِي الْجَنَّةِ كَهَاتَيْنِ"، وَأَشَارَ بِالسَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى ﷺ تَوْضِيحًا لِذَلِكَ. [2]

"I and one who takes care of an orphan, whether related to him or a stranger, will be like these two in paradise;" and the narrator raised his forefinger and middle finger to illustrate this.” 2

إنَّ ولايةَ اليتيمِ تعني التصرفَ في شؤونه: من طعامٍ وكسوةٍ، والسعيَ في إصلاح مالِه إنْ كان له مالٌ. وإنْ كان فقيرًا، فيُستحبُّ الاعتناءُ به ابتغاءَ وجهِ الله. وفي الحديثِ المذكورِ إشارةٌ إلى أنَّ كافلَ اليتيمِ قد يكونُ قريبًا له، وقد يكونُ أجنبيًّا عنه، كما قال النبيُّ ﷺ في الحديث: «مِن قرابته أو غيرِ قرابته». قال النبيُّ ﷺ: «مَن ضمَّ يتيمًا من بين المسلمين إلى طعامِه وشرابِه حتى يُغنيَه اللهُ، وجبتْ له الجنةُ إلا أنْ يَعملَ ذنبًا لا يُغفَر». [3]

The guardianship of an orphan means to dispose his affairs: food, clothing and to improve his property if he has any. However, if he is poor, it is recommended to take care of him for the sake of Allah. In the aforementioned hadith, there is a reference that the orphan mayor may not be a relative as the Prophet says in the hadith: “related to him or a stranger” The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Whoever receives an orphan from amongst the Muslims to feed and give him drink until Allah makes him prosperous, Allah will render the Paradise binding to him unless he commits an unforgivable sin.” 3

قال رسول الله ﷺ: «مَنْ مَسَحَ رَأْسَ يَتِيمٍ لِلَّهِ، كَانَ لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَعْرَةٍ مَرَّتْ عَلَيْهَا يَدُهُ حَسَنَةٌ، وَمَنْ أَحْسَنَ إِلَى يَتِيمَةٍ أَوْ يَتِيمٍ عِنْدَهُ، كُنْتُ أَنَا وَهُوَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ كَهَاتَيْنِ» وَضَمَّ إِصْبَعَيْهِ. [4]

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "Whoever wipes over an orphan's head for the sake of Allah, he will be rewarded for every hair he touched good deeds. Whoever has an orphan and treats him or her kindly, I and he will be in the Paradise like that (Then he combined his two fingers).” 4

سُئل أبو الدرداء عن نصيحة، فنصحه قائلاً: «ارحم اليتيم، وقرّبه منك، وأطعمه مما تأكل. فإني سمعت رسول الله ﷺ، حين سأله رجل عن قسوة قلبه، يقول: "إن أردت أن يلين قلبك فقرّب اليتيم، وامسح برأسه، وأطعمه مما تأكل، فإن ذلك يلين قلبك ويدرك به حاجتك"». [5]

Someone asked Abu Ad-Darda' an advice. Thus he advised him saying, "Show mercy to the orphan, bring him nearer to you and feed him of what you eat. I heard Allah's Messenger (pbuh), when a man asked him about the harshness of his heart, saying, "If you want to soften your heart, then you should bring the orphan nearer, wipe over his head and feed him of what you eat. These surely will soften your heart and enable you to do what you need.” 5

قال أحد السلف: «كنتُ في البداية معتادًا على ارتكاب المعاصي وشرب الخمر. ثم في يومٍ من الأيام استقبلتُ يتيمًا فقيرًا، فأحسنتُ إليه، وأطعمتُه، وغسّلتُه، وكسوتُه. عاملتُه بمثل ما يعامل الرجلُ ابنَه، بل أكثر. ثم نمتُ، فرأيتُ في المنام أنه يوم القيامة، وقد دُعيتُ للحساب، ثم أُمرتُ بالذهاب إلى جهنم بسبب ذنوبي. فجرّتني ملائكةُ العذاب إلى النار. وفيما أنا أُجرّ إلى النار، اعترضني اليتيمُ وقال: "يا ملائكةَ ربي، أطلقوه، لكي يشفعَ له عند الله، لأنه عاملني بالإحسان وأكرمني". فقالت الملائكة: "لم نُؤمَر بذلك". ثم جاء نداءُ الله: "أطلقوه؛ فقد غفرتُ له بشفاعة اليتيم، وبما أحسنَ إليه". ثم قمتُ فتبتُ إلى الله تعالى العليّ العظيم، وبعد ذلك جاهدتُ نفسي في أن أُظهر الرحمةَ لليتامى».

One of the early Muslims recounted, "I was at first used to committing sins and drinking wine. Then, one day I received a poor orphan. I was kind to him, fed him, gave him a bath and clothed him. I treated him as tenderly as a man does with his own son and more. Afterwards, I went to sleep I dreamt that it was the day of Judgement and I was called for reckoning. Then, I was to go to Hell for my sins. I was dragged by the angels of punishment to the Fire. Meanwhile, when I was being dragged to the Fire, the orphan blocked me and said, 'O angels of my Lord, let him go. So as to intercede for him before Allah since he treated me kindly and honored me.' But the angels said; 'We were not commanded to do so.' Then came the call of Allah, "Let him go. I forgave him because of the orphan's intercession and the kind treatment he did with him. Then, I got up and repented to Allah the High Exalted. Later on, I kept on doing my best to show mercy to orphans.

قال النبي ﷺ: «خيرُ البيوتِ بيتٌ فيه يتيمٌ يُحسَنُ إليه، وشرُّ البيوتِ بيتٌ يُساءُ إليه». وقال ﷺ: «أحبُّ الناسِ إلى الله تعالى أنفعُهم للناس، وأحبُّ الأعمالِ إلى الله تعالى سرورٌ تُدخلُه على مسلمٍ، أو تكشفُ عنه كربةً، أو تقضي عنه دَيْنًا، أو تُطعِمُه من جوعٍ». Note: the second hadith you gave reads "the most beloved one to Allah the Almighty is the one who offers a favor to an orphan or a widow" — the translation above instead renders the standard hadith "أحب الناس إلى الله أنفعهم للناس" as the source text you provided.1

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "The best of the houses is that which contains an orphan who is treated kindly and the worst of the houses is that which mistreats him. The most beloved one to Allah the Almighty is the one who offers a favor to an orphan or a widow.”1

أوحى الله إلى داود (عليه السلام): «يا داود! كن أبًا رحيمًا لليتيم، وزوجًا لطيفًا للأرملة. واعلم أن ما تزرعه تحصده، وكلما زدت من العمل زاد ما تجنيه».

"Allah revealed to Dawud (pbuh): "0 Dawud! Be a loving father to the orphan, and a kind husband to the widow. Put into your account that the more you do the more you reap 2

هذا يعني أن كل ما تفعله ستجد عاقبته بعد ذلك. فعلى سبيل المثال، إذا مِتَّ وتركتَ ولدًا أو أرملة، فسيُعامَلون بالطريقة نفسها التي عاملتَ بها الآخرين.

This means that whatever you do, you will find its consequences thereafter. For example, when you die and leave a child or a widow, thy will be treated in the same manner you treated others.

في مناجاته يقول داود: "يا رب! ما جزاء من يكفل يتيمًا أو أرملةً لأجلك؟" فأجابه الله: "يكون في ظلي يوم لا ظل إلا ظلي"، أي ظل العرش يوم القيامة. وفيما يلي رواية أخرى تُبرز فضل الإحسان إلى اليتيم والأرملة. كان هناك رجل من طائفة العلويين، يسكن في بلخ (وهي منطقة بيزنطية)، وله زوجة وعدة بنات. كانوا يعيشون في رفاهية وسعة. ثم مات الزوج، فصارت زوجته وبناته من الفقر بحيث انتقلن إلى بلدة أخرى، فرارًا من أن يشمت بهن أعداؤهن في مصيبتهن. ولما دخلت البلدة لجأت هي وبناتها إلى مسجد مهجور، ثم خرجت لتجلب لهن شيئًا يأكلنه. فمرّت برجلين: أحدهما مسلم، والآخر مجوسي.

In his soliloquy, Dawud says, "O Allah! What is the recompense of whomever takes care of an orphan or a widow for Your Sake?" Allah answered, "He will be under the Shade of Mine when there will be no shade except Mine." i.e., the shade of the Throne on the Day of Judgement." The following is another account that highlights the excellence of treating the orphan and the widow kindly. Once there was someone who belonged to the 'Alowiyyin sect. He lived in Balkh (a Byzantine region) and had a wife and several daughters. They were living in luxury and prosperity. Then the husband died. His widow and daughters become so poor that they moved to another town to flee from the ghost of noticing their enemies rejoice at her misfortune. Having entered the town she resorted to a deserted mosque with her daughters. Then, she went out to bring them something to eat. She passed by two people, a Muslim and a magian.

بدأت بسؤال المسلم، وشرحت له كيف عانت كثيرًا وهي امرأة مكرّمة من طائفة العلويين. لكنه طلب منها أن تُظهر الدليل. فقالت إنها غريبة.

She started by asking the Muslim and explained to him how she suffered a lot while she was an honored woman from the 'Alawyyeen sect. But he asked her to show evidence. She said she was stranger.

لكنه لم يلتفت إليها. ثم انصرفت حزينة، وشرحت قضيتها مرة أخرى للمجوسي، وذكرت له أن لديها أربع بنات يتامى محتاجات. ثم قصّت قصتها على شيخ مسلم.

But, he did not pay attention to her. Then, she left feeling sad and again explained her case to magian and how she had four daughters who were orphans and in need. She recounted her story to a Muslim Sheikh.

وأرسل المجوسي حَرَمَه وبناته ليُعيدوها إلى البيت. فأطعمهن وكساهن أحسن الكسوة. وأقمن عنده في نعيم وإكرام. وفي منتصف الليل، رأى الرجل المسلم الذي ردّ المرأة في منامه أنه يوم القيامة. وقد رُفعت راية فوق رأس النبي ﷺ. وكان هناك قصر من زمرد أخضر، نوافذه من لؤلؤ وياقوت، وله قباب من لؤلؤ ومرجان. فسأل رسولَ الله ﷺ: "لمن هذا القصر؟" فقال: "لمسلم يؤمن بالله الواحد." فقال: يا رسول الله، أنا مسلم. فطلب منه النبي ﷺ أن يُظهر الدليل على أنه مسلم.

The magian sent his ladies to bring her and daughters home. He fed them and clothed them well. They stayed with him in luxury and honor. At midnight, the Muslim who turned the woman away dreamt that it was the Day of Judgement. A banner was risen over the Prophet's head. There was a palace of green emerald whose windows were of pearls and corundum and also had domes of pearls and corals. He then asked the Messenger of Allah: "Whose palace is it?" For a Muslim who believes in Allah, the One.' O Allah's Messenger I am a Muslim, the man said. But the prophet asked him to show the evidence that he was a Muslim.

كان الرجل حائرًا. وعليه قال النبيّ ﷺ: "عندما سألتك المرأة العلوية، طلبتَ منها أن تُظهر دليلًا على أنها علوية. فأرِني إذن دليلًا على أنك مسلم." ثم قام الرجل حزينًا لأنه ردّ المرأة، فأخذ يبحث عنها في المدينة حتى وجدها في بيت المجوسي. فسأله عن المرأة وابنتيها، فامتنع المجوسي وقال إن البركات قد نزلت عليه بسببهنّ.

The man was perplexed. Accordingly, the prophet said "When the 'Alawiyya woman asked you, you asked her to show an evidence that she was Alawiy. Thus, show me evidence that you are Muslim. Then, the man got up sadly for repelling the woman. He started to search for her in the town until he found her in the Magian's house. He asked him about the woman and her daughters, but the Magian refused and said many blessing were showered upon him because of them.

أصرّ الرجل على أخذها، بل عرض على المجوسي ألف دينار، فرفض مرة أخرى.

The man persisted to take them and even offered the Magian a thousand dinars but he refused again.

قال المسلم: لكن ينبغي أن آخذها. فقال المجوسي: ما تريده هو لي، والقصر الذي رأيته في منامك قد خُلق لي. فهل تهديني إلى اعتناق الإسلام؟ فوالله، لم أنم البارحة حتى أسلمتُ أنا وأهلي على يدي المرأة. وقد رأيتُ الرؤيا نفسها أيضاً. فسألني النبي ﷺ: "هل كانت المرأة العلوية وبناتها في بيتك؟" فقلت: "نعم، يا رسول الله؟" فقال: "إن القصر لك ولأهلك، وستدخلون الجنة جميعاً، وقد خُلقتَ مسلماً منذ بدء الخلق." ثم انصرف المسلم حزيناً.

The Muslim said but I should take them. Then, the Magian said, what you want is mine and the palace which you saw in your dream was created for me. May you guide me to embrace Islam? By Allah, I did not sleep yesterday before my family and I embraced Islam at the hands of the woman. I had also the same dream. The Prophet asked me, "were the 'Alawiy woman and her daughters in your house?" I said 'yes', Messenger Of Allah? He, then, said, the palace is for you and your family and all of you will enter Paradise. You were created a Muslim from the beginning of the creation. Then, the Muslim went away sadly.

ألا! ما أعظم بركة الله على الذين يعاملون الأرامل واليتامى بالرفق في هذه الدنيا.

Behold! How Allah blesses those who treat widows and orphans tenderly in this world.

مَنْ سَعَى عَلَى الأَرْمَلَةِ وَالْمِسْكِينِ، كَانَ كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، وَأَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ: وَكَالْقَائِمِ لَا يَفْتُرُ، وَكَالصَّائِمِ لَا يُفْطِرُ ﷺ.1

"He who works hard an behalf of old women and the indigent, is like a Mujahid (a warrior) in the cause of Allah and the narrator thinks, he (pbuh) added, "and like the person standing in prayer and who never tires, and like one who observes the fast and does not break it.”1