Allah counts the good deed of caring for an orphan as a cardinal commitment that flows organically from the human covenant of true belief in Him as One without partner (tawhid).

That makes orphan care among the principal righteous acts believers can do to put the pure belief in Allah they profess with their mouths into action in the world. Allah holds orphan care high as a divine virtue, on par with Islam’s lofty ethics of parental obedience and the obligations of daily ritual prayer.

In fact, caring for the orphan in Islam ranks as one of the eight great duties of the sincere believer.

Moreover, Allah has called on believers of every generation and placed through His prophets and Revealed Books to give special care to orphans, for “never will you find in the established way of Allah any alteration” (Surat Al-Ahzab, 33:62).

Allah Himself has identified orphan care as one of the defining components of righteousness. He groups these parts of righteousness into five general categories, each with its own required convictions and actions.

He lists orphan care high in the second category — giving of one’s cherished wealth in charity. Without fulfilling the duties of this second grouping, to the extent one is able, one’s righteousness remains deficient.