Orphan sponsorship involves a monthly contribution that provides food, clothing, education and health care for an orphan. When these necessities are taken care of, the orphans can grow to become strong and healthy, and later become independent and successful on their own.
Sponsoring an orphan can even have an effect on an entire family, opening avenues for adult caretakers like single parents or extended relatives to have the financial independence to provide a better living for the orphan and their siblings.
With the potential to change so much in someone’s life, sponsoring an orphan is a powerful choice to lift someone out of a future life of difficulty.
Provide a means for ongoing charity
Ongoing charity is a powerful concept in Islam that refers to the potential for one’s good works to continue beyond the act of giving itself, even after one’s passing.
To sponsor an orphan means to contribute to the long-term stability of their health, education and overall well-being, and this can lead to the blessings of your charity to continue after their childhood.
For example, if your sponsorship provides a consistent education for the orphan, any skills they learn and use throughout the rest of their lives are developed because of your contribution. Because of this, the reward of your sponsorship will continue as they use those skills and even teach them to others.
The potential to do long-term good is an opportunity that every Muslim should be enthusiastic about, and orphan sponsorship is an excellent way to capitalize on that spiritual opportunity.
Encourage us to do more good
Would you like that your heart becomes soft and that you acquire what you need? Be merciful with the orphan, pat his head and feed him from what you eat. This will soften your heart and enable you to fulfill what you need” (Tabarani).
Caring for orphans was something near and dear to our Prophet, on him be peace, and he saw this as not just a means for alleviating the suffering of the poor, but also as a way for us to soften our hearts.
When we sponsor an orphan and come to deeply understand their troubles, we become even more sensitive to the suffering of those around us. This, in turn, inspires us to do more to help.
There are at least 153 million orphans in the world today, and they need our help. Let’s be a part of the solution and provide these innocent children with the love and support they need.
