A man asked the Prophet ﷺ, "I have no wealth, but I have an orphan under my care."He replied, "Eat from your orphan's wealth without extravagance," or he said, "and do not protect your own wealth by using his." Husayn was uncertain which wording was used.
أن رجلا سأل النبي ﷺ فقال: ليس لي مال، ولي يتيم؟ فقال: كل من مال يتيمك غير مسرف أو قال: ولا تفدي مالك بماله شك حسين.
Narrated by Abu Dawud (2872), Nasai (6/256), Ibn Majah (2718), and Ahmad (6747), all of them through the hadith of Husayn bin Zakwan the teacher, who said, Amr bin Shuayb narrated to me, and he related it. The wording given is that of Ahmad. Its chain is hasan because of Amr bin Shuayb.As for his statement, "Do not spend your own wealth to spare his wealth," it means, do not preserve your own wealth by spending his wealth in a place where it is your own wealth that should properly be spent.The scholars have differed regarding whether the guardian of an orphan must return what he has taken once he becomes financially comfortable. The correct view is that he is not obliged to return what he took once he becomes wealthy, because he took it as compensation for his work, unless he himself wishes to do so, in which case he may. This is supported by what has been reported from Umar bin Khattab, who said, "I have placed myself with regard to this wealth in the position of the guardian of an orphan. If I am well off, I refrain from taking anything, and if I am in need, I borrow from it, and when I become able, I repay it." This was narrated by Bayhaqi.Ibn Abbas said, "The guardian of an orphan may eat from the orphan's wealth enough to sustain himself, wear from it enough to cover himself, drink the surplus milk, and ride the surplus mount. When he becomes able, he repays it, and if he remains unable, he is absolved of it." This was narrated by Bayhaqi.This is because if we were to require repayment as obligatory, it would result in neglecting the interests of the orphan.