What is the difference between an orphan (yatim) and an abandoned child (lateem), and is an orphan still called an orphan (yatim) after reaching puberty?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
An orphan is one whose father died before he reached maturity, and this description continues until he reaches maturity. As for an animal orphan, it is one whose mother died. And an al-lateem (bereft of both parents) is one whose parents died. Thus, every al-lateem is an orphan if it was before maturity, but not every orphan is an al-lateem.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/69548
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 69548
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy