One Ummah News - 17 Apr 2025
Alone, hungry, and longing for love—the struggle of orphans during Ramadan is heartbreaking. Be their family, bring them warmth
As the crescent moon signals the beginning of Ramadan, millions of Muslims prepare for a month of Ibadah, Istighfar and Iftar. But as we embrace this holy time with our children, and teach them about the blessings of Ramadan, over 150 million orphans prepare for another month of life-threatening hunger, loneliness and despair. Without the love of parents, and the security of family, Ramadan is another month of endless struggle, and no hope.
The numbers tell a story that should deeply disturb each and every Muslim's heart during this blessed month:
1️⃣ There are over 150 million orphans worldwide, deprived of love, hope, and basic necessities to survive
2️⃣ Every 2 seconds, an orphan dies from malnutrition. That’s over 15 million per year, not including other reasons for orphan deaths.
3️⃣ There are around 400 million children in Africa. A shocking 52 million––13%–– have lost one or both parents.
4️⃣ Approximately 5,700 children become orphans every day due to war, natural disaster, poverty and disease.
These are not just statistics. Behind each of those numbers is one of our brothers and sisters. The children that Allahﷻ has entrusted to our care. Children that experience the pain of hunger as the world breaks their fasts with delicious dates and hot food. Children that won’t feel the comfort of their mother or father. Children that will watch as others celebrate Eid with their families, while they remain alone.
For most Muslims, fasting during Ramadan is a spiritual choice or obligation. We do it as an act of worship and self-discipline. Orphans do not even have a choice. They are forced to sit in poverty, starving away as their tiny bodies become frail and weak. As we count down the minutes until we can break our fast, these children count the days since they had a proper meal.
In refugee camps across Syria and Yemen, millions of orphaned children search for the smallest of scraps, their tiny hands clutching empty plates hoping to find anything to eat. In places like Gaza, orphans wake up for suhoor, only to find there is nothing to eat. Their fasting knows no Iftar because there is no food.
Allahﷻ warns us in the Qur’an: "Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense? For that is the one who drives away the orphan" –[107:1-2]. When we neglect these children during Ramadan, are we not among those who drive them away?
Beyond the physical hunger lies a deeper struggle—the spiritual and emotional isolation that orphans experience during a month centred around family. Instead of sitting in circles of loved ones, breaking bread and sharing stories, orphans sit in silence, grieving over their lost parents and lack of family.
In war-torn regions, many children have witnessed the martyrdom of their parents, leaving them traumatised and alone during what should be the most blessed month. For a child who has lost parents, Ramadan becomes a constant reminder of absence. The empty chair at Iftar. The missing voice calling them to prayer. No teacher to help them learn to recite Qur’an. These absences cut deeper during a month that is meant to strengthen family bonds.
The Prophet Muhammadﷺ elevated the status of those who care for orphans, saying: “Myself and the caretaker of an orphan will be in Paradise like this,” and he held his two fingers together.’ –[Bukhari]. Yet how many of these children feel this closeness, this protection, during Ramadan?
As Ramadan draws to a close, the Ummah prepares for Eid al-Fitr—new clothes, gifts, family visits, and communal prayers. For orphans, however, Eid often brings more loneliness and isolation. While other children receive new outfits and toys, orphans watch from the side, with empty hands and heavy hearts.
They will spend Eid in tattered clothes, with nothing remotely new to mark the occasion. They will watch as fathers take their sons to Eid prayers, as mothers and daughters cook and prepare for families. Blessings they can only dream of.
The Prophet Muhammadﷺ taught us: "The best house among the Muslims is the house in which orphans are well-treated." –[Al-Adab Al-Mufrad]. Yet during Eid, many orphans have no house to call home, no family to celebrate with, and no reason to celebrate.
As an Ummah, we must face an uncomfortable truth: we have failed these children. While we focus on our own worship, our own spiritual journey during Ramadan, we have neglected the most vulnerable among us. Our tables overflow with food while orphans go hungry. Our homes echo with laughter while orphans cry in silence. Our hands give in charity, but do we give enough to those who need it most?
Allahﷻ says in the Qur’an: "They ask you about orphans. Say, improving their condition is best.” –[2:220]. Yet have we truly improved their condition? Have we fulfilled our responsibility toward these children whom Allah has specifically mentioned as deserving of our care?
The Prophet Muhammadﷺ himself was an orphan, having lost both parents in childhood. He knew firsthand the pain of growing up without parental love and guidance. His emphasis on caring for orphans came from personal experience, elevating their status and promising Jannah to those who protect them.
The obligation to care for orphans is not merely suggested in Islam—it is mandated. Allahﷻ commands: "Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy." –[4:36]. The mention of orphans immediately after parents and relatives underscores their importance in Islamic social responsibility.
The Prophet Muhammadﷺ further emphasised this duty, saying: "Whoever caresses the head of an orphan (in affection), solely for the sake of Allah, a good deed will be written to his account for every hair over which he passed his hand." –[Bukhari]. Islam places immense reward on the simple act of showing affection to an orphan.
Caring for orphans is not just charity—it is a pathway to the highest ranks of Jannah. When we care for orphans during Ramadan, we are not only fulfilling a religious obligation but also cultivating mercy in our own hearts.
This Ramadan, we can transform the experience of orphans from one of isolation to one of belonging. Here are practical ways to make a difference:
1️⃣ Sponsor an orphan for the duration of Ramadan and beyond, providing them with food, clothing, and education.
2️⃣ Include orphans in your Ramadan gatherings, extending your family circle to embrace those without families of their own.
3️⃣ Allocate a portion of your Zakat and Sadaqah specifically to orphan relief programs that provide both immediate assistance and long-term support.
4️⃣ Volunteer at local orphanages during Ramadan, helping to organise iftars, Taraweeh prayers, and Eid celebrations.
5️⃣ Advocate for orphans' rights and needs within your community and on social media, raising awareness about their struggles.
The Prophet Muhammadﷺ said: "He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while his neighbour goes hungry." –[Al-Adab Al-Mufrad]. Orphans are our neighbours, and we should make it our mission to feed as many orphans as possible this Ramadan.
Ramadan is not merely about abstaining from food and drink. We should purify our hearts and align our actions with what pleases Allahﷻ. And what action could be more aligned with than caring for orphans? So as you prepare your Iftar table this Ramadan, set an extra place for an orphan—literally or figuratively. As you raise your hands in dua, remember the children whose hands are empty. As you rejoice in the blessings of family, remember those who have no one to call family.
This Ramadan, let us strive to be among those who stand close to the Prophetﷺ in Jannah, those who did not turn away from orphans but embraced them as their own. The choice is ours. Will we continue to celebrate Ramadan while orphans suffer in silence?
Let this Ramadan be different. For in caring for orphans, we do not merely give—we receive the greatest blessing of all: the pleasure of Allahﷻ and the companionship of the Prophet Muhammadﷺ in Paradise. Ameen.