Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 253
253 his property should be duly administered and his interests safeguarded (4:6). The property of the orphan should not be dealt with to his prejudice by exchange or by being held in common with the property of the guardian (4:3). The Quran reinforces the guardian’s obligation toward the minor in very emphatic language. “Let those who deal with minors have the same circumspection in their minds as they would wish for in respect of their own little ones if they were to leave them behind. Let them, therefore, fear Allah and always speak the straightforward word. Those who consume the property of orphans unjustly only swallow fire into their bellies” (4:10 ⎯ 11). Younger people are admonished to show due respect and consideration for older people, and older people are exhorted to treat younger people with kindness and affection. The Prophet has said: “He who does not behave kindly toward younger people and does not show due respect to older ones is not of us. ” Islam aims at merging all sections of society into a single community so that all persons may feel themselves to be members of the same family. A whole set of directions exhorts those who are better off to adopt simple ways of life and not to set up artificial barriers in the way of free social intercourse. For instance, the well-to-do are urged toward