What amount may a poor guardian consume from the orphan's wealth?

Chapter on Selling the Musarrah (Animal with milk retained in udder)

Al-Mughni

Book of Sales

Book 12 · Issue 2 · Bab 5

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If the guardian is poor (faqir), he is permitted to consume the lesser of two amounts: either a wage (ujra) for his work or an amount sufficient for his subsistence (kafayah). This is because he is entitled to compensation based on both his labor and his need, thus he may only take what satisfies both conditions.