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If you were speaking to someone about the Prophet ﷺ, what might you say about him?

Some might say he was always smiling, while others might mention that he is the most documented individual in the world.

Many choose to start with their favorite hadith from him, while others select a verse from the Quran that mentions him.

We could highlight several events from the seerah or the Shama’il, including his characteristics and features.

But one of the first things that may not immediately come to mind is that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was an orphan.

Both of his parents had passed away: his father before he was born and his mother when he was less than ten years old.

His beloved grandfather, Abdul Mutallib, also passed away when he was young.

Devastating losses, all in such short time periods between them.

The Prophet ﷺ even had foster mothers. Umm Ayman and Halima Sadiya, may Allah be pleased with them both.

In addition to that, the Prophet ﷺ also had a foster son, Zayd ibn Thabit (RA). Not only was the Prophet ﷺ an orphan, but he took care of other orphans.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “I and the guardian of an orphan will be like these two,” referring to his index and middle fingers held close to each other.

In the same hadith, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), goes on to say that the Prophet ﷺ said, “The best house among the Muslims is the house in which orphans are well treated. The worst house among the Muslims is the house in which orphans are ill-treated.” (Adab al-Mufrad 137)

Of course, embarking on kafala, the Islamic version of adoption, is not always feasible.

So what are the alternatives?

• Orphan sponsorship. Can you support an orphan with the income that you earn every month? Donating to a trustworthy organization that ensures the well-being of an orphan is an amazing sadaqah.

• Sustainership of orphanages. If you’re unable to commit to supporting an orphan every month, try supporting the school or facility that they’re living in. Providing them with Qurans, classroom materials, or even toys can make a world of difference.

• Education and advocacy. Alhamdulillah, multiple Muslim organizations are spreading the word about the necessary sunnah of taking care of orphans. Reach out to your local mosque for resources to equip yourself with the knowledge to make a difference in our communities.

For this week at The Daily Sunnah, we’ve been working with an orphanage in Nigeria that aims to raise funds for solar panels and power.

Alhamdulillah, we’ve just entered Rabi al-Awwal—the month of the Prophetﷺ so why not commit to helping those who are orphans, just like he was?

Even if you can’t donate today, you can still forward this email to a friend and share the campaign links on your social media platforms.