Orphans are given special attention by the Almighty, more so than other beneficiaries, and the Quran speaks about them in various expressions. God says to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “They ask you about orphans. Say, ‘Improvement for them is best, and if you mix with them and your affairs become intertwined, they are your brothers in religion. And God knows the one who causes corruption among them from the one who reforms them.'”[1]
In the teachings and traditions of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), there are numerous examples concerning the care of orphans. Specifically, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) says: “Fear God, fear God regarding orphans, lest their mouths go hungry from your food, and they deteriorate in your presence.”[2]
In addition to his words, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) demonstrated his special care for orphaned children through his actions. For example, during his caliphate, one night he passed by the house of a poor woman who had small children. The children were crying from hunger, and their mother was trying to calm them down and get them to sleep. The woman had a pot on the stove with nothing but water in it, hoping that the children would think there was food cooking.
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) learned of the woman’s situation, and with his servant Qanbar, he went to his own home. He took a small bowl of dates, a bag of flour, some oil, rice, and bread, and carried them on his own back. Qanbar offered to carry it for him, but Imam Ali (peace be upon him) refused. When they reached the woman’s house, he asked for her permission to enter, and after doing so, he poured rice and oil into the pot. After cooking, he served the food to the children and said, “Eat.”
After the children were fed, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) began to crawl around the room on his hands and knees, making the sound of a sheep. The children laughed at this. When they left the house, Qanbar asked, “My master, tonight I saw something remarkable from you, and I understood some of it. But I didn’t understand why you crawled around the house on your hands and knees and imitated the sound of a sheep!”
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) replied: “O Qanbar! When I entered the house, the children were crying from hunger. I wanted them to laugh when I left, as they were no longer hungry. There was no other reason.”[3]
Additionally, he said about the education of orphans: “Treat the orphan as you would your own child, and teach them manners.”[4]
Imam Ali (peace be upon him), despite his high status and position, paid special attention to orphans in both speech and action, providing for them materially and spiritually throughout his life.
(Excerpted from the book “Mafatih al-Hayat,” by Ayatollah Jawadi Amoli, with abbreviations and additions.)
Footnotes:
[1] Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 220; also see Surah Ad-Duha, verse 9; Surah Al-An’am, verse 152; Surah Al-Isra, verse 34.
[2] Al-Kafi, Vol. 7, p. 12.
[3] Kashf al-Yaqin, p. 115.
[4] Wasail al-Shia, Vol. 21, p. 479.