Using the Properties of Orphans in Business and Lending

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Asbat ibn Salim who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah عليه السلام, ‘I had a brother who has died and made a will in which he appointed my brother who is elder to me and myself as executors. He has left behind a small son and has left behind a certain amount of assets. My brother uses that asset in business and gives the extra to the orphan and has taken the responsibility for the assets of the orphan. He (the Imam) said, ‘If your brother’s own asset is sufficient to cover the assets of the orphan, then it is not harmful; but if he does not have that much asset he must not bother with the assets of the orphan.’”