فَمَنْ خَافَ مِن مُّوصٍ جَنَفًا أَوْ إِثْمًا فَأَصْلَحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 182
Translations
But if one fears from the bequeather [some] error or sin and corrects that which is between them [i.e., the concerned parties], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Faman khafa min mawsin janafan aw ithman fa-aslaha baynahum fala ithma alayh. Inna Allaha ghafurun rahimun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the situation where a testator (one making a will) has deviated from justice or committed a sin in their bequest, and permits those who fear such injustice to reconcile between the heirs and correct the will without incurring sin themselves. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes that mediating between disputing parties regarding an unjust or sinful will is not only permissible but praiseworthy, as it seeks to prevent harm and restore equity. Allah's names Al-Ghafur (The Forgiving) and Ar-Rahim (The Merciful) conclude the verse to assure that sincere mediation with good intentions will be forgiven and rewarded.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the section on wills (Ayat al-Wasiyyah) in Surah Al-Baqarah, revealed in Medina. It follows the general rules about making wills and comes in response to the practical disputes that arose regarding unjust or biased bequests among early Muslims, addressing the need for fair resolution mechanisms.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever removes a worldly hardship from someone, Allah will remove a hardship from him on the Day of Judgment, and whoever facilitates (eases) matters for someone in difficulty, Allah will facilitate matters for him in this world and the next.' (Sahih Muslim 2699). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), highlighting the importance of justice and fairness in family matters including inheritance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that active intervention to correct injustice, particularly when motivated by piety and fairness, is not merely permitted but morally commendable in Islam. For modern readers, it emphasizes that seeking to reconcile disputes and prevent harm through honest mediation—whether in family matters, business, or social affairs—is a noble act that carries spiritual reward and falls under Allah's vast mercy.
Related Ayahs
وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْغَمَامَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ ۖ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
And We shaded you with clouds and sent down to you manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not - but they were [only] wronging themselves.
قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِىَ إِنَّ ٱلْبَقَرَ تَشَـٰبَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّآ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ
They said, "Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is. Indeed, [all] cows look alike to us. And indeed we, if Allāh wills, will be guided."
فَجَعَلْنَـٰهَا نَكَـٰلًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded [them] and a lesson for those who fear Allāh.
أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَـٰتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمْ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِم مِّنَ ٱلصَّوَٰعِقِ حَذَرَ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ مُحِيطٌۢ بِٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Or [it is] like a rainstorm from the sky within which is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps in dread of death. But Allāh is encompassing of the disbelievers.