To share the foodstuff of your fatherless children

Q: As you know, the charitable foundation of Makkah Al-Mukarramah is involved in the project of assuming the guardianship of Muslim orphans outside the Kingdom and handles the organizational and financial supervision of this program. Among its interests is contacting benefactors and wealthy people to convince them to take on the guardianship of some orphans. The value of a custody bill is one hundred Riyal per month but some of them apologize and say that the orphans of the Kingdom have a higher priority than those outside the Kingdom and afterwards they do not take custody of the local orphans but only prevent others from taking custody. It is worth mentioning that the foundation is taking care of the orphans inside the Kingdom. Is this excuse acceptable to abandon Muslim orphans from abroad who are troubled by poverty and ignorance? Could your Eminence give some advice - May Allah support you - to those rich people and could you explain the virtue of taking care of orphans as well as running their finances and raising them?

A: Taking care of Muslim orphans by feeding, clothing and teaching them what they need regarding their religion and their worldly life is a good act. There are many Ayahs and Hadiths that exhort Muslims to take care of orphans and they were related in this context, and orphans, whether inside or outside the Kingdom, are included in this exhortation. When orphans are close in kinship and are in dire need, taking care of them entails an even greater reward. (Part No. 14; Page No. 259) It is not permissible for a Muslim who believes in Allah (Exalted be He) and the Hereafter to lessen this great deed with the intention of preventing their Muslim brothers to take part; otherwise he will be from among those who oppose the way of Allah (Exalted be He); We seek refuge with Allah against that. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.