إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ ظُلْمًا إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِى بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا ۖ وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًا 10
Translations
Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a Blaze [i.e., Hellfire].
Transliteration
Inna alladhina ya'kuluna amwala al-yatama zulman innama ya'kuluna fi butunihim nara wa-sayislawna saira
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah severely condemns those who consume the wealth of orphans unjustly, declaring that they are essentially consuming fire into their bellies and will face the blazing punishment of Hell. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this represents one of the gravest sins in Islam, as it combines both oppression (zulm) and exploitation of the vulnerable. The metaphor of 'eating fire' indicates the spiritual corruption and divine punishment that inevitably follows such transgression.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa, which addresses women's rights and social justice in the Islamic community. It was revealed in Medina during a period when the Muslim society needed guidance on protecting vulnerable groups, particularly orphans whose guardians were often tempted to misuse their wealth. The context follows regulations about orphans' wealth and reflects the Qur'an's emphasis on ethical treatment of dependents.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best house among the Muslims is a house where orphans are treated well, and the worst house is one where orphans are treated badly' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, the Prophet warned, 'Avoid the seven destructive sins,' listing the consumption of orphans' wealth as one of them (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that financial wrongdoing, especially against those who cannot defend themselves, incurs severe divine punishment and corrupts the soul. It serves as a powerful reminder that true wealth lies in ethical conduct, and that exploiting the weak—whether orphans, minors, or the vulnerable—carries grave spiritual and moral consequences in both this life and the Hereafter.
Related Ayahs
يَسْـَٔلُكَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَن تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ كِتَـٰبًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۚ فَقَدْ سَأَلُوا۟ مُوسَىٰٓ أَكْبَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَرِنَا ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ بِظُلْمِهِمْ ۚ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ ٱلْعِجْلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ فَعَفَوْنَا عَن ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ سُلْطَـٰنًا مُّبِينًا
The People of the Scripture ask you to bring down to them a book from the heaven. But they had asked of Moses [even] greater than that and said, "Show us Allāh outright," so the thunderbolt struck them for their wrongdoing. Then they took the calf [for worship] after clear evidences had come to them, and We pardoned that. And We gave Moses a clear authority.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ ٱلْعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا
Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor [through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allāh entirely.
إِلَّا طَرِيقَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا
Except the path of Hell; they will abide therein forever. And that, for Allāh, is [always] easy.
إِن تُبْدُوا۟ خَيْرًا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ أَوْ تَعْفُوا۟ عَن سُوٓءٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا
If [instead] you show [some] good or conceal it or pardon an offense - indeed, Allāh is ever Pardoning and Competent.