Shariah-Based Orphan and Child Care

The care and protection of children — especially orphans and the vulnerable — is a Shariah-mandated duty and a demanding field of practice. This course builds capability across child welfare seen through an Islamic lens: the right to family care and equality; the harms of child marriage, child labour, abuse, trafficking, and violence in the home, school, conflict zones and online media; and the responsibilities of families, society and institutions to prevent them. It equips learners to recognise, safeguard against and respond to these harms with both principle and practicality. It is valuable for social workers, orphan-care and NGO practitioners, educators, policymakers, and anyone in Islamic welfare institutions committed to protecting children's rights, safety and dignity.

Caring for the orphan and the child sits at the heart of Islamic ethics — the Prophet ﷺ promised nearness in Paradise to the one who cares for an orphan. This course approaches child protection as ʿilm nāfiʿ and a sacred trust (amānah): every child has a right to family, safety, dignity and a chance to flourish. Studying the threats children face and the duties of those around them, learners reflect on mercy, justice and the collective responsibility (farḍ kifāyah) to shield the weak from harm. The themes connect directly to the maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah — the protection of life, lineage, intellect and dignity. To defend a child is to honour an amānah from Allah and to answer, in deed, His command to raise them in care rather than neglect.