There are many subjects in the domain of religion which have been misinterpreted and believers even out of sincerity have not just delivered the rights of these acts in fact have done damage. Hence is it essential to have proper and thorough understanding of certain Islamic concepts and subjects which have a deep social impact. There are many such concepts and topics like Piety (Taqwa), Worship (Ibaadat), Fasting (Saum) and many more have become distorted thereby not allowing us to achieve what was expected from them. One such topic taken up in this book is about orphans (Yateem). The topic of orphan is something known to everyone and there is no one in an Islamic society who is completely unaware about who an orphan is and to a large extent majority has sympathy towards orphans. But the significance Islamic scriptures, traditions and Seerah of Infallibles have towards the orphans has a different philosophical dimension against what we have understood. For us being sympathetic towards orphans and feeding them something is for the sake of earning of rewards (Thawaab) similar to all other religiously good act which we for. For us today everything done in the name of religion is either for the sake of earning rewards or saving our necks from punishment.

This booklet is a translation of a lecture delivered by Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi, Principle of Jamea Orwathul Wuthqa (The Orwathul Wuthqa Seminar) and Jamea Deenul Qayyim (the Virtual International Islamic Institute). This lecture is part of a series of lectures delivered in the holy month of Ramadhan on the subject of Tafseer of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s) sermon on the month of Ramadhan. Similar to his other works Syed Jawad Naqvi explores the subject of orphans with his deep and vast Islamic knowledge which specifically touches the philosophical dimension of the subject under discussion. Addressing the fundamental need of an orphan from a child psychology perspective is something unique, appealing and undeniable fact. Than cementing the subject with classical Quranic arguments and traditions from Infallibles (a.s) in such a brief and comprehensive manner leaves no excuses for the readers for not breaking the false ideals which we have created as regards to orphans. It might be upsetting for those who out of sincerity and pure intentions have been working on projects related to orphanages to digest the true inner side of this subject specifically when many of existing face and form of orphanages comes under condemnation.

The author under the light of the subjects is not giving a knowledgeable insight into the subject but is addressing certain social problems related to personality development and organizing, disciplining our lives in this scientific and industrial world. It is worth pausing and thinking over the arguments done on the form of relationship that exists today between parents and children in this scientific world; that too specifically about those working women.

A common reason behind why such type of discussions gets hard on our appetite is because of our understanding and vision about Islam. We have never considered Islam as a system of life which has a crystal clear agenda in governing all dimensions of life and has pointed out clearly towards all social issues. We have never looked at Islam as system and in fact just considered religion as few sets of do’s and don’ts do’s which we term as Islamic practical laws which than gets topped up and decorated with some of our own culturally carved rituals. When it comes to systems of life we have taken them from non-divine sources. Today the system of caressing the orphans is also derived from the secular worlds approach towards welfare activities and systems. Today Orphans are also part of our welfare system whereas Islamic presentation of the issue of orphans as clearly expressed in this book is part of social development.

A common argument that can be prophesized over here and is commonly seen is that since the arguments presented in this book are so concrete and cannot be denied but how do we it practically or some would say everything said is fine but we cannot change or reform our outlook towards orphans because we have no means or ways to do it or practically it is not possible. Today we might be able to see a practical solution on reforming our system of orphanages but we can still sow the see of this reformation. We can at least start to educate the people about the actual concept of honoring the orphans and create a wave of awareness in our society which would pave the way for practical solutions.

Today Orwathul Wuthqa seminary is a source of reforming social issues and this seminary aims at reviving the lost Islamic values and constructing society on Islamic systems. For those who read this book and start to think but get lost on how to resolve these issues for them the doors of Orwathul Wuthqa are open for consultation and solution.

I pray to Allah (s.w.t) to broaden our hearts to accept the truth the way it is.

Syed Arif Rizvi

www.islamimarkaz.com
www.jow.edu.pk
www.deenulqayyim.com

The Holy Quran speaks about honoring orphans (Takreem e Yateem) and Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s)in his Sermon related to the Holy month of Ramadhan has used the word Tahneen-e-Yateemas one of the etiquettes of Ramadhan.  The Prophet says that you should be compassionate with the orphans of others so that others are also compassionate towards your orphans.