 I would like to send blessings to all the Muslims around the globe and especially the month of Ramadan, the month of blessings and forgiveness, the month in which Allah SWT opened the gates of heaven for all the believers who fast in this month. And as Prophet Muhammad SAW states, O people, the month of Allah has come towards you bringing divine blessings, mercy and forgiveness. Today and tonight we have with us a very special guest who, in sha Allah, join us for the first 10 nights of Ramadan discussing the most emphasized topics within the Holy Quran. So please welcome with me Sayyid Hussain Al-Qazweeni. How are you? Alhamdulillah. How do you find the spiritual atmosphere in Karbala, especially between the two shrines? In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. Alhamdulillah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad and his family. To my dear brothers and sisters, peace and blessings of Allah be upon you. We are, and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say this, we are in paradise. Especially on a night like this, the eve of the first of Ramadan for us here in Iraq. And for some today was the first of Ramadan, people in North America and other places. Thus for some today was the first of Ramadan, for others tomorrow is the first of Ramadan. Tonight is the eve, definitely tonight is part of Ramadan. And we are right in between the shrines of Imam Hussain and Abul-Fadal Abbas. I don't think that you will find a spiritual atmosphere greater than this. Alhamdulillah, Lord of the worlds. As I mentioned, we are going, in sha Allah, to discuss the most emphasized topics in the Quran. And today we will discuss the topic revolving around orphans in the Holy Quran, is that right? Yes, insha Allah. So, as we always see in the Holy Quran, Sayyidina, the Quran always commands us as Muslims that we should always support and take care of the orphans. So what's the significance behind such emphasis? First of all, after conducting a thorough study of orphans in the Quran, I saw that the Quran speaks of orphans at least 20 times in 20 different verses. Interesting. Sometimes they are mentioned as yateen, singular yateen. Sometimes they are mentioned as yatama, plural. But they have been mentioned at least 20 times in the Quran. What I understand from these verses and from the psychology of being an orphan, what I understand is that the Quran emphasizes on the topic of orphans because being an orphan is extremely difficult. It's something incomprehensible unless you're an orphan yourself. Otherwise, to be an orphan, it means to lose a father or a mother. It means if you've lost a father, it means you've lost a major source of love and compassion. As children, children have two sources of love and support. As an orphan, that means you only have one. That means you've lost 50% of your source of love and support. Some orphans have lost both parents, which is a major disaster. You've lost all support, all the source of support and love. When a child loses his or her father, first of all, they've lost love and support and compassion. We human beings, we're very emotional. We like to be loved, embraced, kissed. There's nothing, nothing feels better than seeing your father or mother stand there for you. Give you a hug, embrace you. Some children, they come and cuddle in the middle of the night with their parents because it makes them feel secure. Even though there's no danger, there's no real danger. But just to come and cuddle with their parents, that makes them feel good. That makes them feel secure. No matter what happens, even if the biggest earthquake happens, they're safe. Why? Because they're in between their mother and their father. Fathers and mothers also teach when an orphan loses a father that means he's lost a source of knowledge and education and advice. The ones that give us our first pieces of advice is our parents. Our fathers give us the best pieces of advice. When you've lost your father, that means you've lost the best advice that anyone could give you. You can see the difference between an advice that a father could give or a mother and advice from a regular friend is that when a friend gives you advice, perhaps he might have his own interests. For example, your friend tells you, we graduated from this high school. Now let's apply to college, let's apply to this university or that college. Why? Because most likely he's going to that college, he's going to that university. Thus he'll give you an advice, but part of it is that he has his own advantage, except parents. Parents, when they give you advice, they give you pure advice, sincere advice. It has absolutely no interest for them. All their interest is in the child's well-being, his education, his well-being, his health, so on and so forth. When a child loses his father or mother, mainly father, that means they've lost their financial support. They've lost a caretaker. Who's going to bring them money? Who's going to make them a living? A father goes out early in the morning and comes back late in the evening and goes through so much work and so much difficulties and problems. Only to make sure that this orphan, I'm sorry, his son, but later to be an orphan, lives comfortably, lives lavishly. When that father is gone, that means they've lost a major support of income and financial income, financial support. Thus, for these various reasons, a father is a source of love and comfort. A father is a source of wisdom and knowledge and advice. And a father is a source of financial support. When an orphan loses a father, he loses all of these things. The Qur'an emphasizes on orphans. Another point is that at many times, orphans get abused. They get abused, as we shall see. They get abused by family members. We see that a lot. By uncles. Sometimes even by their mothers or by their stepfathers. Stepfathers. When their mother marries the stepfather, he's not going to be like the regular father. A regular father has patience. If his son starts screaming in the middle of the night, it's normal. But a stepfather, he might get up and he'll hit the child, because it's not his son. They will get abused financially. The father might have inheritance left for his children. They'll get abused. The uncles, the relatives, they'll take away their money. And this occurs all the time. For these reasons, and others, in addition to the pain, the psychological pain, the emotional trauma that this orphan will live with for decades. For these reasons, the Quran emphasizes on orphans. Insha'Allah, that's actually very significant. Because when it comes, you mentioned supporting the orphan. When it comes to supporting orphans, Allah SWT stays in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 and gives to the orphans their property and do not substitute worthless things with their good things that they have and do not devour their property. We see that Allah SWT is commanding us in that. So what's the duty towards the money of orphans? We see several verses in the Quran that address the topic of money of orphans. The money of orphans. And one verse. Do not even go near him. This is something that especially uncles or grandfathers say, you know what, this orphan is now in my house. I'm spending on him. He has money, inheritance from his father. He has $5,000, $10,000. Why don't I use this money? Let me spend it on him. Or let me take the money myself. Or take it as a loan. The Quran says don't even go near it. You see the Quran doesn't say don't use it. It doesn't say, don't use it. It says, don't even go near it. Stay away from it. Stay away from the money of orphans. Don't go near it. Unless it has an advantage for that orphan. Let me give you an example. This orphan has $5,000. Inheritance from his father. You hear of a project. If you make an investment in this project, the $5,000 within one year will become $10,000. This will benefit the orphan. This is, Allah billyati hei ahsan. This will benefit the orphan. Make an investment. That's fine. You're helping the orphan in that way. Another verse. You'll be held accountable. You were trusted with this money. Don't let it go away. Another verse. Don't waste it. Just leave it. Don't waste it. Don't waste it. Don't waste it. Don't waste it. Don't waste it. Don't waste it. Don't waste it. Don't waste it. Don't waste it. And another verse. وابتلوا ليتاما حتى إذا بلغوا النكاح فإن آنستوا منهم رجدا فتفعوا إليهم أمالهم. ولا تأكلواها إسرافين وبدارا. While this orphan is a child, before he reaches the age of puberty, don't take this money for yourself. Don't eat this money. Don't use it on yourself. This is forbidden. In another verse, this verse, the following verse shows how terrible it is to take the money of orphans. إن الذين يأكلون أموالا ليتاما ولمن إنما يأكلون في بطونهم نارا وصيص لون إسعيرا. Those who take the money of orphans and they eat it, eat it meaning what? They spend it. They spend that money. They buy food. They buy homes, land. They're actually eating health fire. They're putting health fire in their stomach. To this degree. Thus, we have to be very careful when it comes to the money of orphans. Right now, in Iraq and other countries, there are several organizations for orphans. Charities for orphans. There's lots. Maybe in Iraq, we could count over 100. 100 is nothing. And the thousands of organizations dedicated for orphans, they collect charities. These organizations have to be extremely careful regarding their spending. No extra spending whatsoever. No extra spending. No big signs, lavish offices, lots of air conditioning, nice cars, just in the name of organizations for orphans. We'll be held accountable for this. Of course. Even employees that work at such organizations, if they come an hour late, if they come an hour late, yet they're being paid for that hour? They're taking money from orphans. They have to give and return. They have to give for that money. These organizations have to be extremely careful. Inshallah. How does Allah SWT instruct us to sponsor the orphans? And what does the Qur'an have to say about it? We see several verses, another category of verses, that mentions giving money to orphans. Those who give money, even though they need the money, they love the money, who doesn't have, who doesn't love money? وأنه لحب الخير لشديد, the Qur'an says. Regarding human beings. Have you ever met a human being that doesn't love money? Honestly, I haven't. All people love money. Yet, those who love money, yet at the same time they still give it to orphans and poor people. And a verse. And good, the good is to believe in Allah and the day of judgment. And those who give money, while they love that money to the family of the Prophet and orphans and poor people. You see the Qur'an encourages us to give to orphans, sponsor orphans. And another verse. They ask, what should we give? How should we spend our money? Give our money in good causes. How? The Qur'an says. The Qur'an encourages us to spend your money on your parents. Number one. Two, your close family members. Three orphans. Number three orphans. And then others. To support this. We used to emphasize on sponsoring orphans. Especially in the month of Ramadhan. And his famous sermon, his Taqaban Shai Ramadhan, when he gave his famous sermon to welcome the month of Ramadhan. One of the sections, he said regarding the month of Ramadhan. One of the good deeds of the month of Ramadhan. Have mercy on the orphans of people in this month. And Allah will make sure that he will have mercy on your orphans. On your orphans. And in a hadith, he mentioned Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. He said, Myself and he who sponsors an orphan are like this in paradise. And he put two fingers together. Meaning he who sponsors an orphan will be the next door neighbor of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. And he will be the next door neighbor of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. There's a lot of emphasis on sponsoring orphans. When it comes to sponsoring orphans, you mentioned the last sermon of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. He also states in that sermon when you fast in this month, in the blessed month of Ramadan, you should remember the hunger and thirst of the people, of the orphans and the poor people, as you mentioned. So what is the emotional care for orphans? How should we care? This is a very good point. A lot of people, they think when they hear of orphans, for example, when I travel, people ask me that we've heard that you have an orphanage. Your father has an orphanage in Karabina, or there's a lot of orphans in Karabina and in Haram. I tell them, yes. As soon as I say yes, they put their hands in their pocket. Immediately, when people think of orphans, they immediately think of money. This is nice. Yes, orphans, poor orphans need money, but that's only half of the story. The other half is that orphans need emotional support. Like we stated in the beginning, when an orphan loses his father, he doesn't just lose financial support, he loses emotional support. Orphans need someone to be there for them, to guide them, to show them love and compassion. And that's one of the things that organizations that sponsor orphans really need to consider. It's not just pass out money. Anyone can pass out money. That's a great deed. I don't wish to lower that deed. Let's give all the money that we can't to orphans. But at the same time, let's make it part of our agenda for organizations that deal with orphans. Let's go to their homes. Let's take Aftar during the month of Ramallah and go to their homes. Let's sit with them. One of the best deeds to do for an orphan is to brush his head. Brush the head of an orphan. There's a Hadith by Rasulullah, says that when you brush the head of an orphan, how many hairs did you brush? Underneath every hair, there's an angel asking Allah to forgive you. This is an emotional care. Maybe you don't have money, but you have emotions to give to this orphan. Call him Baba. Call him my son. Use emotional words with these orphans. This will uplift them emotionally. The Quran says, Say good words to them. And another verse. And be good. Kindness. Kindness to orphans could be with words. If you don't have the money to be kind to them, you have the words to be kind to them. You have the words to show them kindness. And another verse. Don't ever make an orphan sad. Don't make an orphan sad. Always try to make the orphan smile. Make him happy. Be kind. Be kind. Honor the orphan. That's actually very, very significant when you said, That whole chapter discusses a significant orphan in history. And even when he was small, I mean some people say that an orphan has a specific age, but that specific person, Sha'a will talk about it. He was oppressed throughout his life. I mean, from the first day in his house, until his martyrdom or death, he was oppressed. So, who are the famous orphans in history? If you will. Like you said, my dear brother, the Quran tells us the greatest human being on earth. The greatest human being that ever existed was an orphan. The greatest human being. The Quran reminds him. The Quran reminds him that you're an orphan. You want to care of him. You didn't find an orphan. You found a family. You opened his eyes to this world without a father. His father, Abdullah, died while Rasulullah's mother was still pregnant. Ameena, Ameena bint Wahab. She was pregnant while her husband, Abdullah, passed away. Rasulullah came into this world without a father. At the age of six, he lost his mother. They were on their way in the desert to an area called Ar-Rabada. Ameena bint Wahab was going to see her family members. She died in the middle of the desert. Rasulullah was by himself and his mother died. His grandfather, Abdul-Muttalib, began to take care of him. At the age of 13, Abdul-Muttalib died. Ameena, Rasulullah had one loss after the other. And then his uncle, Abdul-Muttalib, began to take care of him. And then Abdul-Muttalib also passed away. Thus, the Qur'an reminds Rasulullah, Alameen jidkaya teeman fa'awa. We're an orphan yet we took you in. We took care of you. And this shows us that an orphan who doesn't have a father, who doesn't have a source of support and love. A source of knowledge and educational wisdom. And a source of financial support. Yet an orphan can become the greatest human being on earth. And there's another orphan who we believe will be the saviour of humankind. Imam al-Mahdi was an orphan. His father, Imam al-Hassan al-Haskari, died at the age of five. And then he went into disappearance. This is in our theological creed. This is our theological creed that we believe in Imam al-Mahdi was an orphan. And he was born in the year 256. Not that he will be born in the future as some schools of thought say. No, he was born. He'll be the greatest human being. He'll be the saviour of humankind. Other famous orphans. Imam Ali al-Sanaf. Imam Ali was also an orphan. When his father died, Abu Tanib. Imam Ali was still young. He was maybe 13 or 14 years old. He was a teenager. Padmati Zahra was an orphan. When her mother Khadija died, she was very young. She was very young. Hassan and Imam al-Hussain, they were orphans. When their mother Fatima al-Zahra died, they were three, four, five years old. They hadn't reached six. Thus, we see that the greatest people in history were orphans. Yet, look at where they reached. They reached top positions of Islam. Thus, this gives hope to all orphans. This gives us hope that just because when we see an orphan, it doesn't mean that this orphan has no future. In fact, this should drive us to take care of this orphan. Orphans have a lot of potentials. If an orphan is given a lot of attention, a lot of support, a lot of education, not just financial support. If we take care of this orphan educationally, this orphan can become a great human being with a lot of potential and a lot of accomplishments. And if this orphan is neglected, he could become Namrud. Namrud was an orphan. Saddam Hussein was an orphan. And we saw how we turned out. Saddam Hussein was neglected. Who took care of him? He grew up on the streets. When an orphan is not raised properly, he's not put in a good school. If the community does not take care of him, he'll be raised in the streets and become a person like Saddam Hussein. Communities are a significant role in the life of orphans. Insha'Allah. Insha'Allah, we will conclude. If you don't have anything to say, we'll conclude tonight. There's one thing I'd like to say. That here in Iraq, we have hundreds of thousands of orphans. Hundreds of thousands. They're forced into forced labor. They have to work. They're five, six, seven years old. They're working. They're forced into begging. Walk in the streets of Karabira and other places you see young children begging. And you know that this becomes a habit. It does, yeah. He'll grow up. He'll be 20 years old and he'll be used to begging. They're not in schools. They're homes. I don't know if you can even call them homes. And at the same time, we have politicians that are living like kings. Their salaries are like kings. Their cars, their bodyguards, their homes. Is this fair? Is this fair? And we have politicians in Iraq that claim to be followers of Ahl al-Bait. Where is this in the teaching of Ahl al-Bait that you live like a king and we have orphans like this. Was this how Imam Ali was? Imam Ali, al-Assalam, would live with the people. He would cry when he would see orphans. The father of the orphans. As a father of orphans, how many politicians do we have today are fathers of orphans that take care of these orphans? That's sad to see. This is an important point, my dear brother. And I hope my audience will take this into consideration and give this message that in Iraq, politicians have to pay attention to this point. Definitely. Where are the caretakers of these orphans who will be held accountable under the abjudgment? Of course. They are responsible. Insha'Allah. Respected viewers, brothers and sisters in Islam, I would like to thank you for tuning in and watching our show. And if anyone missed a part of the show, you can go on our YouTube channel at Imam Hussain TV3. And also, if you want to join our discussion, we'll say it by asking him any questions. You can also log on to our social media networking at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other WhatsApp and other social networking websites. And insha'Allah, stay tuned for the other episodes at Imam Hussain TV3. And stay tuned. As-salamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Thank you.