Explaining Islam in Light of the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ‎)

The Word for ‘Orphan’ in the Qur’anic Arabic

Question

My question relates to the word “orphan” in Qur’anic Arabic.  I understand that the word for orphan is “Yateem.”  Could you please give the ways to write orphan in Qur’anic Arabic for the following:

  • Orphan boy

  • Orphan girl

  • Two orphan boys

  • Two orphan girls

  • More than two orphan boys

  • More than two orphan girls

  • Plural orphans (including boys and girls)

Your quick response will be greatly appreciated.  The answer to this question could mean the difference between breaking up of a family or uniting of a family.  So please reply as soon as possible.  I will be ever grateful.  Allah Hafiz

Answer

The Qur’an has used the word “yateem” for orphans (duo form: “yateemayn” and plural form: “yataama“). The word ‘yateem‘ can be used as a generic word for both orphan girl(s) and orphan boy(s). However, where a gender or a number distinction is required to be made, the following words may be used respectively:

  • يتيم for an orphan boy;

  • يتيمة for an orphan girl;

  • يتيمين for two orphan boys;

  • يتيمتين  for two orphan girls; and

  • يتامى for more than two orphan boys/orphan girls/orphan boys and girls.

I hope this helps. In case any aspect of my answer remains unclear, please feel free in writing back to me at your own convenience. However, it is quite worrying to know that an issue as grave as breaking-up of a family depends on such a matter.

19th November 1999