Hasan Azni narrates from a man of Kufa that a person asked the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم , "O Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ! Can I beat the orphan under my care?" The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم replied, "Beat him only as much as you would beat your own son if he were in his place." The man asked, "How much and in what way can I use his wealth?" The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم replied, "In a good and recognized manner, without wasting his wealth and without protecting your own wealth through his wealth, you may use it."

Hazrat Abu Alia (may Allah have mercy on him) says that whatever you consume from the wealth of the orphan will be a debt upon you. Do you not see that Allah Almighty has said: { فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إلَیْہِمْ أَمْوَالَہُمْ فَأَشْہِدُوا عَلَیْہِمْ } When you hand over their wealth to them, make witnesses over it.

Hazrat Ibn Sirin (may Allah have mercy on him) says that I asked Hazrat Ubaidah (may Allah have mercy on him) about the meaning of Allah Almighty’s statement { وَمَنْ کَانَ غَنِیًّا فَلْیَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَنْ کَانَ فَقِیرًا فَلْیَأْکُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ }. He (may Allah have mercy on him) replied: It refers to a loan. Do you not see that Allah Almighty says: { فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إلَیْہِمْ أَمْوَالَہُمْ فَأَشْہِدُوا عَلَیْہِمْ } When you give them their wealth, make witnesses over it.

Hazrat Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him), in the explanation of Allah Almighty’s statement { وَمَنْ کَانَ غَنِیًّا فَلْیَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَنْ کَانَ فَقِیرًا فَلْیَأْکُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ }, says that it means to take it on credit and invest that wealth in trade.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) states that if the guardian becomes needy, he should place his hand with theirs (i.e., eat with the orphans) and should not wear a turban (i.e., adopt simplicity).

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) regarding the statement of Allah Almighty { وَمَنْ کَانَ فَقِیرًا فَلْیَأْکُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ } says that in the case of poverty, he may eat from their wealth.

Hazrat Sufyan, Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair (may Allah have mercy on him), and Hazrat Wail (may Allah have mercy on him) say that one may take a loan and eat.

22718 - And Sufyan (from Hammad) (1) from Sa'id ibn Jubayr.

22719 - From Sufyan, from Asim, from Abu Wa'il, they said: By means of a loan.

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ka'b that a woman came and asked: My son and his brothers from their father's side are orphans and under my care. I had my own wealth, which I kept spending on them until it was finished. Now their wealth remains; what do you say about this? He replied: Place your hand with their hands and eat in a reasonable manner.