Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hasan Azni narrates from a man of Kufa that a person asked the Holy Prophet ﷺ, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Can I beat the orphan under my care?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "Beat him only as much as you would beat your own son if he were in his place." The man asked, "How much and in what way can I use his wealth?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "In a good and recognized manner, without wasting his wealth and without protecting your own wealth through his wealth, you may use it."

Hazrat Abu Alia (may Allah have mercy on him) says that whatever you consume from the wealth of the orphan will be a debt upon you. Do you not see that Allah Almighty has said: { فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إلَیْہِمْ أَمْوَالَہُمْ فَأَشْہِدُوا عَلَیْہِمْ } When you hand over their wealth to them, make witnesses over it.

Hazrat Ibn Sirin (may Allah have mercy on him) says that I asked Hazrat Ubaidah (may Allah have mercy on him) about the meaning of Allah Almighty’s statement { وَمَنْ کَانَ غَنِیًّا فَلْیَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَنْ کَانَ فَقِیرًا فَلْیَأْکُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ }. He (may Allah have mercy on him) replied: It refers to a loan. Do you not see that Allah Almighty says: { فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إلَیْہِمْ أَمْوَالَہُمْ فَأَشْہِدُوا عَلَیْہِمْ } When you give them their wealth, make witnesses over it.

Hazrat Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him), in the explanation of Allah Almighty’s statement { وَمَنْ کَانَ غَنِیًّا فَلْیَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَنْ کَانَ فَقِیرًا فَلْیَأْکُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ }, says that it means to take it on credit and invest that wealth in trade.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) states that if the guardian becomes needy, he should place his hand with theirs (i.e., eat with the orphans) and should not wear a turban (i.e., adopt simplicity).

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) regarding the statement of Allah Almighty { وَمَنْ کَانَ فَقِیرًا فَلْیَأْکُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ } says that in the case of poverty, he may eat from their wealth.

Hazrat Sufyan, Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair (may Allah have mercy on him), and Hazrat Wail (may Allah have mercy on him) say that one may take a loan and eat.

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ka'b that a woman came and asked: My son and his brothers from their father's side are orphans and under my care. I had my own wealth, which I kept spending on them until it was finished. Now their wealth remains; what do you say about this? He replied: Place your hand with their hands and eat in a reasonable manner.

Hazrat Ikrimah (may Allah have mercy on him) says that by the command of Allah Almighty { وَمَنْ کَانَ فَقِیرًا فَلْیَأْکُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ } is meant to place the hand.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the command of Allah Almighty { وَمَنْ کَانَ غَنِیًّا فَلْیَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَنْ کَانَ فَقِیرًا فَلْیَأْکُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ } was revealed regarding the guardian of the orphan’s wealth; if he himself is needy, he may eat from it.

It is narrated from Hazrat Sha’bi (may Allah have mercy on him) that a woman sent someone to him to inquire about the orphans who were under her care; she was their guardian. She asked whether she could consume anything from their wealth. He replied: Yes, she may consume in a reasonable manner.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "Eat from the wealth of the orphan, and whatever you eat, keep account of it."

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I dislike keeping the wealth of an orphan separate with me until I mix my food with his food and my drink with his drink.

Hazrat Urwah (may Allah have mercy on him) says that the guardian of an orphan has been permitted to eat something from his wealth in a reasonable manner.

Hazrat Sha'bi (may Allah have mercy on him) states regarding the guardian of an orphan's wealth that he may consume from the milk and dates according to the wage of a hired worker.