P2-HAD-11 Major teachings in the Hadiths Paper 2, Question 1 · compulsory
Hadith 11 — The one who brings up an orphan
This Hadith promises extraordinary closeness to the Prophet ﷺ for the person who takes responsibility for an orphan. Care includes affection, maintenance, education, protection and safeguarding property and rights.
Compulsory Question 1 Hadith 11 Life in the community
Syllabus connection
- P2.T1.b3 What each passage teaches about what Muslims should believe
- P2.T1.b4 What each passage teaches about how Muslims should act
- P2.T1.b5 Study with reference to the original Arabic text as well as the English translation
- A2.11 Hadith 11: Care for orphans Group (editorial): Community
Learn the material
Learning objectives
Key vocabulary
- kafil
- A guardian or sponsor who undertakes care and responsibility.
- yatim
- An orphan; in Islamic law, a child who has lost the father before maturity.
- janna
- Paradise.
- ri'aya
- Care, protection and supervision.
- amanah
- A trust that must be protected faithfully.
Before you start
Answer from memory before opening the answers.
- Which teaching group has this course placed the Hadith in?
- What does Paper 2 Question 1(a) ask you to explain?
- What does part (b) ask you to do differently?
- Which short phrase best carries this Hadith's central instruction?
Check your answers
- Life in the community. This is an editorial teaching group; several Hadiths connect with both groups.
- What the Hadith teaches Muslims to believe or understand.
- How Muslims put the teaching into action through concrete practice.
- أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ هَكَذَا.
The lesson
The prescribed Hadith
أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ هَكَذَا، وَقَالَ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ السَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى.
‘I and the man who brings up an orphan will be in paradise like this.’ And he pointed with his two fingers, the index finger and the middle finger.
Prescribed Hadith 11 · Appendix 2 · recorded by al-Bukhari or Muslim in their Sahih collections (many by both)
Central teaching
It means undertaking dependable, dignified and safeguarded care for an orphan's material, emotional, educational and legal welfare.
Instruction → belief → action
| Teaching point | Evidence or focus | Development |
|---|---|---|
| Orphan care is a sacred trust | I and the carer of an orphan will be in Paradise like this. | The kafil accepts continuing responsibility rather than occasional sympathy. |
| The reward is closeness to the Prophet ﷺ | The index finger and the middle finger. | The two fingers visualise nearness in Paradise and the high status of the deed. |
| Care is comprehensive | I and the carer of an orphan will be in Paradise like this. | Food alone is insufficient; emotional security, education, protection and rights matter. |
| Power must not be abused | The index finger and the middle finger. | An orphan's property and dependence create a special duty of safeguarding. |
Do not copy the translation as your answer
Part (a) rewards the teaching behind the words. Name the instruction, explain the belief or principle it rests on, and develop its scope.
Context and chronology
The Prophet ﷺ uses a physical gesture with the index and middle finger, making the promised closeness memorable.
The Hadith praises the person who actually undertakes care. A strong answer therefore gives examples of sustained responsibility and safeguarding.
Source discipline
Use the prescribed wording and secure context. Do not invent a narrator, occasion, collection number or historical detail merely to make the answer sound learned.
People, places and events
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, whose promised closeness gives the deed its striking reward.
- The orphaned child, whose welfare and rights require protection.
- The kafil, who assumes continuing responsibility.
Qur'an and Hadith evidence
Learn short phrases that can be placed inside an explanation. English quotation is acceptable; accurate use matters more than length.
أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ هَكَذَا
I and the carer of an orphan will be in Paradise like this.
The wording promises closeness, not merely entry.
السَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى
The index finger and the middle finger.
The gesture makes the closeness of the reward vivid.
Significance
- Allah gives exceptional reward for protecting vulnerable children.
- The Prophet ﷺ models concern for those without normal parental protection.
- Children possess dignity, property rights and emotional needs.
- Guardianship is an amanah for which the adult is accountable.
These are the beliefs and principles for part (a). The examination asks what the Hadith teaches, not only what its words say.
Significance in practice
For part (b), use setting → action → effect. Specific practice is stronger than saying “Muslims should follow it”.
| Setting | Action | How this applies the Hadith |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship | Provide reliable financial support through a trustworthy organisation. | Education, food and health needs can be met consistently. |
| Family care | Welcome an orphaned child with affection without erasing their identity or lineage. | Belonging is created while Islamic legal identity is respected. |
| Safeguarding | Use transparent records and independent oversight for money and decisions. | Dependence is not exploited. |
| Education | Mentor, tutor and advocate for equal opportunity. | Care prepares the child for secure adulthood. |
Connections with other topics
| Source or topic | Connection |
|---|---|
| Hadith 10 | Both elevate sustained care for vulnerable people to major worship. |
| Hadith 15 | Mercy becomes concrete through protection and affection for a child. |
| Hadith 16 | The community acts as one body when a child loses parental protection. |
Common misconceptions
Students often think Sponsorship permits changing the child's lineage.
In fact Islamic care protects the child's known identity and lineage while providing love and security.
Students often think Financial payment alone completes the duty.
In fact Money may be essential, but emotional, educational and safeguarding needs also matter.
Students often think Orphans should be displayed publicly to attract donations.
In fact Their privacy, dignity and consent must be protected.
What the examiner wants
AO1: what you must know
- Know the complete set translation and the meaning of the key Arabic terms.
- State the central instruction accurately: It means undertaking dependable, dignified and safeguarded care for an orphan's material, emotional, educational and legal welfare.
- Develop at least three underlying beliefs or principles.
- Use a short phrase from the Hadith as evidence rather than copying the whole translation.
- Give balanced coverage across the two Hadiths you choose.
The Hadith teaching answer
Paper 2 Question 1 asks two different things from Paper 1. Part (a) asks what the Hadith teaches Muslims to believe. Part (b) asks how they put it into action — which needs concrete, practical examples.
- The instruction
- Simply and directly: what is the Prophet ﷺ telling Muslims to do?
- The belief behind it
- What this shows about Allah, or about what a believer is.
- The action
- Concrete practice — in the home, the community, and everyday life.
- Today
- A real, specific example a student could actually give.
AO2: what you must understand
Part (b) needs actions. Each example should show who does what, in which setting, and how it expresses the teaching.
Sponsorship
Action: Provide reliable financial support through a trustworthy organisation. Effect: Education, food and health needs can be met consistently.
Family care
Action: Welcome an orphaned child with affection without erasing their identity or lineage. Effect: Belonging is created while Islamic legal identity is respected.
Safeguarding
Action: Use transparent records and independent oversight for money and decisions. Effect: Dependence is not exploited.
Education
Action: Mentor, tutor and advocate for equal opportunity. Effect: Care prepares the child for secure adulthood.
Worked examination example
Weaker response
Caring for an orphan only means sending occasional money.
Why it is weak: it distorts or narrows the teaching and gives no developed belief or practical action.
Stronger response
Orphan care is a sacred trust: the kafil accepts continuing responsibility rather than occasional sympathy. The reward is closeness to the Prophet ﷺ: the two fingers visualise nearness in Paradise and the high status of the deed. Care is comprehensive: food alone is insufficient; emotional security, education, protection and rights matter. Power must not be abused: an orphan's property and dependence create a special duty of safeguarding.
Why it is stronger: it identifies several teachings, develops them and remains within the wording's limits.
Practise
Guided practice
- Reduce the Hadith to one accurate instruction.
- Select three belief or principle statements from the teaching table.
- Attach one short phrase from the Hadith to each developed point.
- Turn two applications into setting → action → effect sentences.
- Correct one misconception without using vague language.
Before you write, answer these
- What is the instruction?
- What belief or principle lies behind it?
- Which exact action proves application?
The examination gives roughly a third of a page for a 4-mark answer. Aim for a short, dense paragraph — no introduction needed. Your work saves automatically in this browser.
Independent practice
- Write a 90–120 word part (a) explanation without looking.
- Write two separate part (b) examples from different settings.
- Compare this Hadith with Hadith 10 in one similarity and one difference.
- Explain why the first misconception is wrong.
The examination gives roughly a third of a page for a 4-mark answer. Aim for a short, dense paragraph — no introduction needed. Your work saves automatically in this browser.
Check your understanding
Answer each question, then check it. Every option is explained — including the ones that are wrong — so read the feedback even when you were right.
Write a full answer
Exam-style practice question
Four Hadiths are printed in the examination. Practise choosing the two you can explain and apply most evenly.
Hadiths set for this practice
- Hadith 11 — this lesson
- Hadith 10 — Care for widows and the poor
- Hadith 15 — Mercy
- Hadith 1 — Sincerity (nasiha)
Exam-style practice question
Important: Question 1 is marked as a whole
Question 1 is marked as a whole. Both of your chosen passages are read together and given ONE mark out of 4 for part (a), and ONE mark out of 4 for part (b). This means balance matters: an excellent answer on one passage and a thin answer on the other is limited by the overall impression. Choose two passages you can develop equally well.
(a) Choose any two of the Hadiths above. Explain what teachings they contain for Muslims to believe. [4] AO1
(b) Explain how Muslims can put these teachings into action. [4] AO2
Written by this course to match the style and demand of the examination. It is not a Cambridge question.
Plan your answer
Before you write, answer these
- Which two Hadiths can I develop equally well?
- For each, what is the instruction and what beliefs lie behind it?
- What short wording can I use as evidence?
- Which two practical actions are specific and realistic?
- Have I divided time and space evenly?
Out of scope here: Copying the translations, giving only personal opinion, or describing general importance without concrete action.
The examination gives roughly a third of a page for a 4-mark answer. Aim for a short, dense paragraph — no introduction needed. Your work saves automatically in this browser.
Indicative answer
Show an indicative answer Write yours first — you will learn more
Part (a) — Hadith 11
Orphan care is a sacred trust: the kafil accepts continuing responsibility rather than occasional sympathy. The reward is closeness to the Prophet ﷺ: the two fingers visualise nearness in Paradise and the high status of the deed. Care is comprehensive: food alone is insufficient; emotional security, education, protection and rights matter. Power must not be abused: an orphan's property and dependence create a special duty of safeguarding.
Part (a) — Hadith 10
One who manages the affairs of the widow and the poor man is like the one who exerts himself in the way of Allah, or the one who stands for prayer in the night or fasts in the day. This teaches the central principle of Care for widows and the poor and should be developed from its own lesson.
Part (b) — practical action
Sponsorship: Provide reliable financial support through a trustworthy organisation. Education, food and health needs can be met consistently.
Family care: Welcome an orphaned child with affection without erasing their identity or lineage. Belonging is created while Islamic legal identity is respected.
Other answers are equally valid
- Marks are awarded for what is correct. Nothing is deducted for errors or omissions.
- Credit is given for valid answers that go beyond the syllabus and the mark scheme.
- It is entirely possible to reach the highest level using different information or a different argument from the one shown here.
- Answers are judged against the levels of response, not against a checklist of required points.
Marking guidance reference
Important: Question 1 is marked as a whole
Question 1 is marked as a whole. Both of your chosen passages are read together and given ONE mark out of 4 for part (a), and ONE mark out of 4 for part (b). This means balance matters: an excellent answer on one passage and a thin answer on the other is limited by the overall impression. Choose two passages you can develop equally well.
| Level | Marks | What the examiner is looking for |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 |
|
| 3 | 3 |
|
| 2 | 2 |
|
| 1 | 1 |
|
| 0 | 0 |
|
What moves an answer up: The clearest difference between Level 3 and Level 4 is comprehensiveness, development, and quotation. Level 3 "may quote"; Level 4 is "likely to quote".
| Level | Marks | What the examiner is looking for |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3–4 |
|
| 1 | 1–2 |
|
| 0 | 0 |
|
What moves an answer up: The whole AO2 distinction is discussion versus description. A factually excellent but purely descriptive paragraph cannot reach Level 2.
Note that AO2 has two levels, not four. Some older textbooks and revision guides still show a four-level scale for part (b); that scale is out of date.
Self-assessment checklist reference
Judge your answer as a whole against the levels above, not by counting points. An answer can reach the top band using different material from the indicative answer.
Consolidate
Lesson summary
- It means undertaking dependable, dignified and safeguarded care for an orphan's material, emotional, educational and legal welfare.
- Allah gives exceptional reward for protecting vulnerable children.
- A strong part (a) answer explains the instruction and the belief behind it rather than copying the translation.
- A strong part (b) answer gives specific, realistic actions and explains how each action applies the teaching.
- Both selected Hadiths are marked together, so balanced treatment is essential.
Retrieval flashcards
Further revision task reference
- Create a one-page card with the Arabic opening, complete translation, one instruction, three beliefs and three actions.
- Retrieve it after 24 hours, one week and one month.
- Complete an eight-minute Question 1 practice pairing it with Hadith 10.
- Replace any vague action with a named setting, action and effect.
Before you write, answer these
- Which belief is secure?
- Which action is too vague?
- Which Arabic phrase can I recall accurately?
The examination gives roughly a third of a page for a 4-mark answer. Aim for a short, dense paragraph — no introduction needed. Your work saves automatically in this browser.
Your progress is saved in this browser only. Use My progress to export it if you change device.
Why this would reach the top band
The response distinguishes belief from action, develops the teaching instead of copying it, and gives realistic applications. Other accurate teachings and examples can reach the same level.