Advice for the Guardians of Orphans

Question:
The questioner : Your Eminence! Before we conclude this session, do you have a word for those who take care of orphans? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The Shaykh : Yes. We advise them to fear Allah, to be diligent in raising the orphans with a Shari'ah-based upbringing, and to lead them in prayer if they have reached the age of seven or older. They should raise them with an Islamic upbringing by commanding them to obey Allah and forbidding them from sins and from bad company. They should also take care of their wealth, preserve it, and develop it. All of this is important. So we advise the guardians of orphans to give them advice, to command them to obey Allah, to prevent them from the prohibitions of Allah, to keep them away from bad company, and to... preserve their wealth and develop it. If they are under the age of seven, they should also be treated with kindness, raised, taught, and treated well until they reach the age of discernment. Then they should be commanded to pray with the people, and they should be monitored in everything that benefits them in religion and worldly affairs.