Losing one or both parents is a trauma for any child in any situation. In countries where war, famine and AIDS are a part of everyday life, millions of children are orphaned and left to struggle for survival.

Islamic Relief's Orphan programmes are mainly based in countries where the population has suffered from natural disaster or conflict, resulting in large-scale disruption of

innocent lives. Children are often the primary victims of these events, and many of them are orphaned.

Islamic Relief has been working with orphans since 1986, and now has projects in ten countries across the world.

Our Orphans Waqf Programme gives you the chance to support orphaned children in Asia, Africa, the Middle East or Eastern Europe.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

'Whoever strokes the head of an orphan, not stroking it for any other reason except to seek the pleasure of God, will be rewarded for every hair that his hand touches.

He also said:

Whoever treats an orphan girl or boy well, I will be with him on the Day of Resurrection like these,' and he pointed to his two fingers, the index finger and the middle finger.

The donated money goes directly to the orphan's family, who can then spend it on essentials such as food and clothing. Orphans are regularly monitored to ensure that they are receiving everything they need. Children receive regular health checks and all school-aged children receive an education. Housing conditions are also assessed, and improvements made where possible.

Ways to Participate

The following illustration is an example of how people can get involved, using a fictional character and family.

Mohammed Saif's family wanted to participate in the Waqf scheme by collectively investing in four shares - (two in Health, one in Qurbani and one in Orphans). Mohammed visited his local Islamic Relief charity shop and paid for all the shares in cash. He explained to the Islamic Relief representative at the shop that he wanted the three Waqf Deeds to be in the family's name. The fourth deed, the Orphan's Waqf deed, was to be registered in his late father's name.

Did you know?

A brief look at the biographies of the great scholars and teachers of Islam shows how well Muslims societies cared for their orphans and how seriously they took the Prophet's counsel to "be like a generous father to the orphan".

Many of the great Imams and luminaries of the religion grew up as orphans: great men and women like Imam al-Shafi'i, Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Imam al-Bukhari, al-Hafiz Jalal al-Din Suyuti and Rab'ia al-Adawiya were orphans.