Eating from an orphan's property

Al-Hasan al-Urani, a man from the people of Kufa, narrates that a man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! May I strike the orphan under my care?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Strike him only as much as you would strike your own son if he were in his place." The man said: "How much of his wealth may I use, and how?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You may use it in a good and fair manner, without amassing wealth for yourself from his wealth and without protecting your wealth by means of his wealth."

Abu al-Aliyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Whatever you eat from an orphan's wealth will be a debt upon you. Do you not see that Allah Almighty has said: "So when you hand over their wealth to them, call witnesses over it" [Al-Nisa: 6].

Ibn Sirin (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I asked Ubaydah (may Allah have mercy on him) what is meant by the statement of Allah Almighty, "Whoever is well-off should abstain, and whoever is poor may eat in a fair manner." He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: What is meant by it is a loan. Do you not see that Allah Almighty says: "So when you hand over their wealth to them, call witnesses over it" [Al-Nisa: 6].

Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) said in explanation of the statement of Allah Almighty, "Whoever is well-off should abstain, and whoever is poor may eat in a fair manner": He should take a loan from it and put that wealth into trade.

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: If the executor becomes needy, he should put his hand with their hands (that is, eat together with the orphans), and he should not wear a turban.

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said concerning the statement of Allah Almighty, "And whoever is poor may eat in a fair manner": In the case of poverty, he may eat from their wealth.

Abu al-Aliyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: He should eat by taking a loan.

Something similar is reported from Sa'id bin Jubayr (may Allah have mercy on him).

Something similar is reported from Abu Wa'il (may Allah have mercy on him). They all said: By way of a loan.

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ka'b that a woman came and asked: My sons and their brothers from their father's side are orphans under my care. I had wealth of my own, and I kept spending it on them until it was gone. Now they have wealth; what do you say about this? He said: Put your hand with their hands, and eat in a fair manner.

Ata (may Allah have mercy on him) and Ikrimah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: What is meant by the statement of Allah Almighty, "And whoever is poor may eat in a fair manner," is that he should put his hand (with theirs).

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The statement of Allah Almighty, "Whoever is well-off should abstain, and whoever is poor may eat in a fair manner" [Al-Nisa: 6], was revealed concerning the guardian of an orphan's wealth who looks after it and sets it in order; if he himself is needy, he may eat from it.

It is narrated from al-Sha'bi (may Allah have mercy on him) that a woman sent to him to ask about orphans who were under her care and of whom she was the guardian: May she eat anything from their wealth? He said: Yes, she may eat in a fair manner.

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Eat from the orphan's wealth, and keep track of how much you eat.

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I dislike that the orphan's wealth should be kept apart with me, until I mix my food with his food and my drink with his drink.

Urwah (may Allah have mercy on him) permitted the guardian of an orphan to eat something from his wealth in a fair manner, in return for looking after him.

Al-Sha'bi (may Allah have mercy on him) said concerning the guardian of an orphan's wealth: He may partake of the milk and the fruit at the rate of a hired worker.