The care of orphans in the Islamic tradition, vulnerable children, and child sponsorship programs

Abstract


One of the most favored objects for Muslim charitable works is the care of orphans. The Prophet Muhammad was an orphan himself: his father died either just before or just after he was born; his mother died when he was only six and he was taken into the family of his paternal uncle. Several passages in the Qur’an condemn those who misappropriate orphans’ property. The result is that there can be few Islamic welfare organizations that do not include orphans among their beneficiaries, and emotive appeals on their behalf are disseminated to the public. Muslims generally define “orphan” as a child who has lost his or her father, i.e. the family breadwinner. The term “orphan” is held to include foundling infants and street children as well as those with known relatives, and is also in practice sometimes used as a euphemism for a child born out of wedlock who is rejected by a family. The last few years have seen a flowering of research on Muslim philanthropy as one aspect of a broader research interest in charity and humanitarianism. This article confines itself to some programmatic suggestions, juxtaposing the Islamic predisposition in favor of orphans with current trends in child-centered research, and thereby revealing what could be a remarkably fruitful field for empirical enquiry. The practice of international one-to-one “child sponsorship,” now a staple of many Islamic charities, brings to a head some key issues relating to the care and protection of vulnerable children.



Jonathan Benthall | source: JOURNAL OF MUSLIM PHILANTHROPY &CIVIL SOCIETY 340 |
Categories: Sponsorship Care


Other articles

Issue of Consent for MTP by Orphan, Major and ‘Mentally Retarded’: A Critical Review

An orphan, mentally retarded woman, above 18 years age, when suffered pregnancy as a result of rape posses a serious challenge…

Read more

Sibling separation and psychological problems of double AIDS orphans in rural China – a comparison analysis

Objective: We investigated the psychological impact of sibling separation among children who lost both of their parents…

Read more

Psychosocial Effects of Traumatic Experiences in Children Living In Orphanages: A Selected Case of Kings Kid Village and Our Home Child Care Center in Nairobi County, Kenya

This study explored the psychosocial effects of traumatic experiences in children living in two orphanages: Kings Kid Village…

Read more

A Descriptive Study on Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children Staying in Institutional Homes

Introduction: Orphans and the other vulnerable children and adolescents (OVCA) living in institutional homes are more prone…

Read more