Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:

Taking care of orphans and widowed women is a very great act of worship; it brings a reward equal to that of jihad.

Sahl ibn Sa'd al-Sa'idi al-Ansari (radi Allahu anhu) is the narrator. His name was Huzn, but the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) changed it to Sahl.

He passed away in the year 91 AH in Madinah; he was the last Companion (sahabi) in Madinah. (radi Allahu anhu)

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
From this it is understood that the one who raises and cares for an orphan will have a very high rank in Paradise. Truly, looking after an orphan is a very great act of worship.

(2)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah writes, quoting Ibn Battal, that whoever hears this hadith should act upon it by sponsoring an orphan, so that he may attain the companionship of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in Paradise. There is no rank greater than this. (Fath al-Bari: 10/536)

(3)
In one hadith, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “The best house among the Muslims is the house in which there is an orphan (under care) and he is treated well, and the worst house is the house in which there is an orphan (under care) and he is treated badly.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, al-Adab, Hadith: 3679) An orphan cannot demand his needs in the same way that a son can insist or affectionately persuade his father to fulfill his wishes, therefore it is necessary that the needs of the orphan be fulfilled even without his asking.

Hadith Commentary:
In all these narrations, gestures have been considered valid.
This is precisely the reason for their conformity.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah stated in the chapter heading that the gesture of a mute person is valid; in both the hadd (prescribed punishment) for slander (qadhf) and in li‘an (mutual cursing), his gesture is effective and recognized. In various ahadith, Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has established that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, on certain occasions, made use of gestures, even though he could have clarified the matter through his noble speech as well.

(2)
When the gesture of a person who is able to speak is considered valid, then why should the gesture of a person deprived of the faculty of speech not be valid? To differentiate between hudud (prescribed punishments) and other rulings regarding gestures is mere obstinacy, because the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam implemented the hadd upon a Jew based on the gesture of a girl.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Khusumat, Hadith: 2413)
In any case, gesture is recognized in li‘an and other rulings.
And Allah knows best.

Explanation:
1:
This alludes to the elevation of the ranks of the guardians of orphans, meaning that those who take care of orphans will be granted high ranks in Paradise.

Benefits and Issues:
That is, to make an orphan minor girl or boy—whose father has passed away—a member of one’s own household in social life, to take responsibility for their upbringing, and to ensure that they do not feel the absence of their father, is a deed of great determination and virtue.