Question:

 As-Salamu `alaykum. There is a controversy about a non-Muslim organization wanting to set up an orphanage for the tsunami orphans with the intention of changing their faith. Should Muslims set up their own orphanages, or is it better to keep orpans in foster care arrangements and provide ongoing sponsorships?  

  Answer:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Brother, thanks a lot for your good question and concern about the tsunami victims. May Allah Almighty alleviate their suffering and remove their pains.

Regarding your question, it is high time now for all peoples to bring their hands together to aid the tsunami victims and alleviate their suffering.

As for setting up orphanages by Muslims or non-Muslims, there is no harm in doing so provided that the orphanages are not used to change the faiths of the Muslim children. That is against all human values and rights. Muslim children should be allowed to practice and learn the basics and fundamentals of their faith.

In his response to your question, Dr. Sano Koutoub Moustapha, professor of fiqh and its principles, International Islamic University, Malaysia, states:

Islam calls upon Muslims to take care of orphans and provide them with whatever they need, in kind as well as in cash.

Furthermore, there is severe punishment for those people who humiliate or do injustice against the orphans. In this regard, Muslims must do their best to provide the orphans a decent life and protect them against those who are willing to take advantage of their hardship and difficult situation.

As for setting up orphanages by Muslims or non-Muslims, there is no harm in doing so provided that the orphanages are not used to change the faiths of the Muslim children. That is against all human values and rights. Muslim children should be allowed to practice and learn the basics and fundamentals of their faith. They should not be turned to other religions because of a few dollars and aid money given to them. It is against human rights to misuse the aid and donations to the needy people. The aid should not be on religious belief basis; the victims are all humans and deserve respect and decent lives. Nobody should take advantage of their needs to impose a belief or faith.

For those people�Muslims or non-Muslims�willing to build an orphanage, they must have respect for the faiths of the children.

As what is better in terms of building orphanages or keeping children in foster families, I would stand for both, but not on a religious basis. In other words, all children should be allowed to enter the orphanage built by Muslims or non-Muslims. The orphanage must be used as a tool to end the trauma of the children, not to change their faith or turn them to different types of beliefs.

All in all, politicization or segregation based on faith at this junction of time is rejected and inhuman. All religions and faiths must come together and fight against the hunger, trauma, and tragedy faced by all, Muslims and others. There should be no time for fighting among the followers of religions. They must respect one another. Muslims must be given the right to bury their known dead Muslims in the way they want, and Buddhists should also be allowed to cremate only their dead, not other dead people.

Islam stands for mutual respect of religions and faiths. Islam also stands for cooperation among nations and peoples. Let us put aside differences in the face of this disaster and tragedy. Let us come together to protect those innocent children and helpless and homeless people. May Allah grant all of us His mercy and forgiveness.

Allah knows best.

Responded by:

Dr. Sano Koutoub Moustapha