Treat orphans nicely

A person who doesn’t have father and mother or has a mother but doesn’t have a father is called an orphan.  The person who treats them with love and affection will reside in paradise along with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  If someone caresses the head of an orphan only for the sake of pleasing Allah, that person is given as many virtues as the hair on that head.

 

Harassing an orphan, hurting them or usurping their wealth is very bad.  A seeker should strictly refrain from this.  Allah Most High and His beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) are pleased and happy with the residents of a house in which orphans are being raised and they are treated like one’s own children.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) says: By that Sublime One who has sent me as the Prophet!  The Lord Almighty will not punish the person who has been merciful to an orphan in this world and spoke gently with them and was benevolent on them because of their bereavement.

 

Anecdote: Hadhrat Sari Saqati (May Allah shower His mercy upon him) says that I once saw Hadhrat Ma’aroof Karkhi picking up some dates on the day of ‘Eid.  I asked him: Hadhrat!  What is this for?  Hadhrat Ma’aroof (May Allah shower His mercy on him) replied: The boy standing in front of me was crying.  On inquiry, the boy told me that today is ‘Eid and I am an orphan.  All other children are wearing new garments and I don’t have even a single one.  Then he said: I want to sell these dates and buy some walnuts for this child so that he feels happy.  Hadhrat Sari Saqati (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says:  On this, I took the child along with me and bought some walnuts and garments for him.  The boy was delighted receiving them.  Hadhrat Ma’aroof Karkhi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says: As soon as the boy became happy, a radiance was developed in my heart which changed my state entirely.

 

Son!  Did you notice the result of treating an orphan nicely with affection?  That’s why as far as possible treat orphans kindly which leads to great reward.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) says: The one who treats an orphan nicely and bears their expenses, in paradise I and him (or her) will be as close as the index finger and the middle finger.

 

One day the housemaid of Hadhrat Dawood Ta'ee (May Allah shower His mercy upon him) requested him:  If you permit me, I will make meat curry.  Hadhrat Dawood (May Allah shower His mercy on him) said:  Fine.  My heart also desires it.  When the housemaid prepared the curry and brought it before him, he asked her:  Just see, where are the orphans of so and so.?  The housemaid said;  There are here.  Hadhrat Dawood (May Allah shower His mercy on him) said:  Take this and give it to them.  She said:  You haven’t eaten meat for along time.  Have a little at least.  Hadhrat Dawood Ta'ee (May Allah shower His mercy on him) said:  Listen girl!  If I eat this curry, after some time it will go into the lavatory in the form of excretra and if the orphans eat it, it will reach the ‘Arsh of Allah.  The approval of Allah and His Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is apart from it.  Now you tell me what is better, that I should eat or they should eat?

[Excerpted from Mawaaiz-e-Hasana of Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan, 2006 edition, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 368-369]