Prohibition of devouring the Property of an Orphan

باب تأكيد تحريم مال اليتيم

This short chapter places the wealth of orphans under a powerful warning. An orphan has lost the protector who would normally guard his rights, so Islam surrounds that wealth with special sanctity and treats consuming it unjustly as one of the gravest sins.

The single hadith here lists the orphan's property alongside shirk, magic, and murder, the most ruinous of acts, so the reader feels just how seriously this trust is taken. The lesson is to fear Allah in anything entrusted to us, especially what belongs to those too weak to defend it.

Hadith 1614

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏اجتنبوا السبع الموبقات‏"‏ قالوا‏:‏ يا رسول الله وما هن‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏الشرك بالله، والسحر وقتل النفس التي حرم الله إلا بالحق، وأكل الربا، وأكل مال اليتيم، والتولي يوم الزحف، وقذف المحصنات المؤمنات الغافلات‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏.‏ ‏"‏الموبقات‏"‏ المهلكات‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Keep away from the seven fatalities." It was asked: "What are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Associating anything with Allah in worship (i.e., committing an act of Shirk), sorcery, killing of one whom Allah has declared inviolable without a just cause, devouring the property of an orphan, the eating of usury (Riba), fleeing from the battlefield and accusing chaste believing women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

The Prophet (peace be upon him) named seven ruinous sins to keep far from, among them consuming an orphan's wealth, alongside idolatry, sorcery, unlawful killing, usury, fleeing battle, and slandering chaste women. Devouring what belongs to the defenceless is counted among the gravest acts.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1614 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 104