The guardian eats from the orphan's wealth reasonably in return for managing it if he is poor

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said concerning the saying of Allah Almighty, "And whoever is rich, let him abstain, and whoever is poor, let him eat in a fair manner" [Surah al-Nisa: 6]: This verse was revealed concerning the guardian of an orphan's wealth: when he is poor and needy, he may eat from it in a fair manner in return for his role as guardian.

In one narration the wording is: This verse was revealed concerning the guardian of an orphan's wealth, who looks after the orphan's wealth and manages it properly: when he is in hardship and need, he may eat from it in a fair manner.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I said to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! For what may I strike the orphan in my care?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "For whatever you would strike your own children, you may strike the orphan too; do not protect your own wealth by means of the orphan's wealth, and do not increase your own wealth by means of his wealth."
This is how he narrated it; the preserved (mahfuz) version is the one that follows.

Hasan al-Urani (may Allah have mercy on him) said that a man said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! For what may I strike the orphan in my care?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "For whatever you would strike your own children." The man then said: "May I take something from his wealth?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You may take it on the condition that you do not increase your own wealth by it, nor protect your own wealth by means of it."
This is mursal.

Qasim bin Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on him) said that a man came to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: "I have the wealth of orphans in my care," and he asked: "May I take something from it?" Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Do you not search for their stray camels?" He said: "Of course." He said: "Do you not treat their mangy camels?" He said: "Of course." He then asked: "Do you not plaster their watering troughs?" He said: "Of course." Then he asked: "Do you not go ahead of them to prepare the water on their watering day?" He said: "Of course." So he (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Then you may also take of their milk."

Qasim bin Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on him) said that a man asked Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): "There is an orphan in my care; may I drink of his milk?" He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "If you search for his stray camels, plaster his watering trough and treat his mange, then you may drink the milk, provided the offspring are not harmed and you do not go to excess in milking."

Ikrimah (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the guardian may put his hand in along with the orphans' hands (that is, take from their wealth according to what is customary and needed), but he should not wear a turban or anything beyond that.

Ikrimah narrates from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "The guardian may eat from the orphan's wealth with his fingers, but no more than that (that is, not to increase his own wealth, but only to satisfy his hunger)."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), regarding the saying of Allah Almighty: "And whoever is rich, let him refrain, and whoever is poor, let him eat according to what is reasonable" [Surah al-Nisa: 6], said:

"If he is poor, let him put his hand in along with their hands and eat, but he should not wear a turban or anything beyond that from their wealth."