Sahih al-Bukhari 5304 (Book 68, Hadith 53) #5082 – Caring for Orphans and its Reward
SUMMARY:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) promised a great reward in Paradise for those who look after orphans.
HADITH:
Narrated Sahl: Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “I and the one who looks after an orphan will be like this in Paradise,” showing his middle and index fingers and separating them.
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ زُرَارَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ سَهْلٍ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ “ أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ هَكَذَا ”. وَأَشَارَ بِالسَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى، وَفَرَّجَ بَيْنَهُمَا شَيْئًا.
QUICK LESSONS:
Look after orphans with compassion & kindness; Provide them with love & support; Be generous towards them; Take responsibility for their well-being; Earn rewards from Allah SWT by doing so.
EXPLANATIONS:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us the importance of caring for orphans. He said that those who look after an orphan will be rewarded greatly in Paradise. He showed his middle and index fingers and separated them to demonstrate how close he and the one who looks after an orphan will be in Paradise. This hadith teaches us that we should take care of orphans as much as possible because it is a great deed that will bring us closer to Allah SWT and earn us rewards in the hereafter. We should also remember that taking care of an orphan is not only about providing them with food or shelter but also about giving them love, attention, guidance and support so they can grow up into successful individuals.
