How can a male orphan become one’s mahram? And what are his rights? And what is the sunna way o

An orphan is: a child whose father has died. A child is considered one who has not reached puberty; if he has reached puberty, he is no longer [legally] an orphan.

It is obligatory on the Muslims to take such a child in their custody to protect him from becoming lost. Merely keeping an orphan in one’s custody does not make him one’s mahram. So, if a person takes charge of him, the orphan does not become mahram to his children, he is as their maternal or paternal cousin would be to them.

Thus, the ruling of the orphan to his custodian’s children is the same ruling as any non-mahram and whatever applies to him. So, when the child comes close to puberty (murahiq), it is haram for him to look at the wife of his custodian, as well as his grown daughters, as long as the custodian’s wife is not related to him, such as being his maternal aunt, for if she is, then there is no problem.

Also, this orphan has no right to any inheritance, unless he has a reason to inherit, according to rulings that are known to people of knowledge, for a nephew does not inherit from his uncle when there are sons of the deceased. It is also permissible for this orphan to marry the daughters of his custodian, as we mentioned, for they are not mahram to him.

One can make a male or female orphan one’s mahram by the custodian’s wife breastfeeding him, for he then becomes their foster-son, and the children of the custodian become his foster-brothers. [For details of this, search the archives at www.sunnipath.com] And his relationship with his [s. custodian’s] daughters become that of foster-sisters. So, it is obligatory to teach those people who have made one another mahram through nursing to learn the rulings that are connected with this, because many people err when it comes to this.

A foster-child has no right to inheritance, but his custodian may leave him a bequest from his wealth, so he may carry out his bequest to him up to one-third of his wealth, even if his blood-children are not pleased by this. However, if he tries to leave the orphan more than one-third of his wealth, he may not take more than one-third except by consent of the inheritors.

It is also obligatory that his custodian raise the child with religion and good character as he carefully would with his own children. But the most important thing that is necessary to watch over, is taking care that the orphan’s wealth is not lost, because many who take charge of orphans are not careful regarding their wealth, so they lose the child’s money, intentionally or unintentionally.

It is not permissible to give away any of his money, for it has been related by Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be well pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him said, “Stay away from seven deadly sins.” And it was said, “O Messenger of Allah, what are they?” He responded, “Associating partners with Allah, magic, killing a soul that Allah has forbidden except by right, consuming the wealth of an orphan, consuming riba (interest), turning one’s back on a day of military attack, and soiling the reputation of chaste and indiscreet believing women.” [Related by Muslim]

Also, many authentic hadiths have come urging to take charge of orphans and treating them well, and among them, what Muslim has related from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him said, “Whoever takes charge of an orphan that belongs to him or another, he and I are like these two in Heaven.” And his saying “like these two” means the index finger and the middle finger.

Imam al-Nawawi explained in Sharh Muslim,

“(Whoever takes charge of an orphan) The one who take charge of his affairs, including his spending, his clothing, his discipline and upbringing, etc, and this virtue reaches those who take charge of him from his own wealth or from the wealth of the orphan through legal guardianship (wilaya shar`iyya).

And as for his saying (that belongs to him or another), an orphan that belongs to him would be a relative, such as his grandfather, mother, grandmother, brother, sister, paternal uncle, maternal uncle, paternal aunt, maternal aunt and other relatives. And another means a non-mahram.”

And Imam Nawawi said in the Majmu`, “Imam al-Shafi`i said in the Umm, and this is the position of our leading scholars, “It is praiseworthy to stroke the head of the orphan and to embrace him and honor him, and he should not be treated with harshness nor repulsed.”

The upshot is that the custodian should treat the orphan as one of his own children and be careful with matters of his religion, money and good treatment. Actually, he should do more good towards the orphan because he would be broken-hearted over the loss of his father.

– Amjad Rasheed

(Translated by Shazia Ahmad)

السؤال : كيف يصبح اليتيم الذكر مَحْرَماّ ؟ وما حقوقه ؟ وما السنة في التعامل معه؟ الجواب : اليتيم هو : الصغير الذي مات أبوه ، وحدُّ الصغير هو من لم يبلغ الحلم ، فإن بلغ الحلم فليس بيتيم . ومن كان هذا حالُه وجب على المسلمين كفالتُه حفظاً له من الضياع ، ومجردُ كفالة اليتيم لا تجعله مَحْرَماً ؛ فإذا كفله شخصٌ ليس بين أولاده وبين اليتيم محرميةٌ كأولاد العم والخال ونحوهما فحكمُ اليتيم مع أولاد كافله كحكم الأجنبي في كل شيء ؛ فيحرم عليه إذا صار مراهقاً النظرُ إلى زوجة كافله وبناته الكبيرات ما لم تكن زوجة كافله محرماً له كخالته فلا إشكال في هذا . وكذلك لا يستحق هذا اليتيم شيئاً من الميراث ما لم يكن له سببٌ فيه مما هو معروف عند أهل العلم ، فابنُ الأخ لا يرث عمَّه وهناك بنون للميت ، ويجوز لهذا اليتيم التزوج من بنات كافله المذكور لأنهن لسن محارمَ عليه . ويمكنُ جعلُ اليتيم الذكر أو الأنثى من المحارم بأن ترضعه زوجةُ كافله فيصير ابناً لهما من الرضاع ويصير أولادُ الكفيل إخوةً له من الرضاع فيكون حالُه مع البنات هنا كحاله مع أخواته من النسب ، ويجب على من حصل لهم تحريمٌ بالرضاع تعلُّمُ الأحكام المتعلقة بذلك فإنه مما يقع الخطأ فيه كثيراً بين العوام ، والولدُ من الرضاع لا حقَّ له في الميراث ، لكن يمكن لكافله أن يوصي لليتيم ببعض ماله فتنفذ وصيتُه له في ثلث ماله ولو لم يرضَ أولادُه الأصليون ، أما إذا أوصى له بما يزيد على ثلث المال فلا ينفذ الزائدُ إلا بإذن الورثة . ويجب على كافل اليتيم تربيته على التدين وحسن الأخلاق كما يراعي ذلك في أولاده ، ومن أعظم ما يجب الحذرُ منه في التعامل مع اليتيم هو تضييعُ ماله ، فكثير ممن يقومون على كفالة اليتيم لا يراعون ذلك فيضيعون ماله بقصد وبغير قصد ، ومن ذلك أنه لا يجوز التبرع بشيء من مال اليتيم ؛ وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال :” اجتنبوا السبعَ الموبقات . قيل : يا رسول الله، وما هنَّ ؟ قال : الشركُ بالله ، والسحر ، وقتل النفس التي حرم الله إلا بالحق ، وأكل مال اليتيم ، وأكل الربا ، والتولي يوم الزحف ، وقذف المحصنات الغافلات المؤمنات “. رواه مسلم . وقد جاءت الأحاديثُ الصحيحةُ بالحث على كفالة اليتيم وإحسان معاملته ومن ذلك : ما رواه مسلم عن أبي هريرة قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم :” كافلُ اليتيم له أو لغيره أنا وهو كهاتين في الجنة “. قوله (كهاتين ) يعني : الأصبعين السبابة والوسطى . قال الإمام النووي في” شرح مسلم” :” ( كَافِل الْيَتِيم ) الْقَائِم بِأُمُورِهِ مِنْ نَفَقَة وَكِسْوَة وَتَأْدِيب وَتَرْبِيَة وَغَيْر ذَلِكَ , وَهَذِهِ الْفَضِيلَة تَحْصُل لِمَنْ كَفَلَهُ مِنْ مَال نَفْسه أَوْ مِنْ مَال الْيَتِيم بِوِلايَةٍ شَرْعِيَّة . وَأَمَّا قَوْله ( لَهُ أَوْ لِغَيْرِهِ ) فَاَلَّذِي لَهُ أَنْ يَكُون قَرِيبًا لَهُ كَجَدِّهِ وَأُمّه وَجَدَّته وَأَخِيهِ وَأُخْته وَعَمّه وَخَاله وَعَمَّته وَخَالَته وَغَيْرهمْ مِنْ أَقَارِبه , وَاَلَّذِي لِغَيْرِهِ أَنْ يَكُون أَجْنَبِيًّا “. اهـ وقال في “المجموع” :” قال الشافعيُّ في “الأم” وأصحابُنا : يستحبُّ مسحُ رأس اليتيم ودهنُه وإكرامُه , ولا يُقهر ولا يُنهر “. اهـ والحاصلُ أنه يجب على كافل اليتيم أن يعامل اليتيم كأحد أولاده فيراعي أمور دينه وماله وحسن الأدب معه ، بل ينبغي أن يزيد في ذلك لليتيم لأنه مكسور القلب بفقد والده .