18.4 Orphans in Islam Concerning orphans, Islam decrees that a guardian should treat an orphan as he would like his own children to be treated should he die. An orphan is to be guided and given sincere and wise counsel. If he has money, it is to be employed for him in the best possible way and not spent extravagantly before he comes of age. If the guardian is needy, he is permitted to take a wage from his ward's wealth for managing it, and if he is not, then he is to refrain. An orphan should have his money handed over to him as soon as he is old enough to be able to manage his own affairs.