Is zakah obligatory on the property of orphans, and is it permissible to trade in their property?

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. I am in charge of orphans, and I would like to know if there is zakah on their property? And am I allowed to grow their wealth through trade? And what is your advice to me, may Allah grant you success?

Answer:
Yes. It is obligatory to pay the zakah of the orphans on their behalf; their guardian and agent pays it on their behalf and does not leave it unpaid, because it is one of the rights obligatory upon them in their property, so he acts on their behalf in that. As for trading with it, if this is in their benefit, he trades with it, because this is in their benefit, growing their wealth. But if he puts it in his haram (forbidden) or doubtful businesses, or if he puts it in investments where it is not known what they will lead to—losses and setbacks have become common in them nowadays—he does not expose it to what would expose the orphans' wealth to danger. Yes.