وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَتَبَدَّلُوا۟ ٱلْخَبِيثَ بِٱلطَّيِّبِ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حُوبًا كَبِيرًا 2
Translations
And give to the orphans their properties and do not substitute the defective [of your own] for the good [of theirs]. And do not consume their properties into your own. Indeed, that is ever a great sin.
Transliteration
Wa atu al-yatama amwalahum wa la tatabbadalu al-khabitha bi al-tayyib wa la ta'kulu amwalahum ila amwalikum innahu kana huban kabira
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the guardians of orphans to return their wealth to them when they reach maturity, and strictly prohibits substituting the orphans' good wealth with bad wealth or mixing and consuming their wealth with one's own. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this severe warning against misappropriating orphan wealth reflects Islam's deep concern for protecting vulnerable members of society, with the phrase 'huban kabira' (a great sin) emphasizing the severity of this transgression in the sight of Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa, revealed in Medina, which extensively addresses women's rights, inheritance, and the protection of vulnerable groups. The specific context relates to the pre-Islamic Arabian practice of guardians misappropriating orphans' wealth, which Islam explicitly forbade. This addresses a widespread social injustice that the Prophet (peace be upon him) encountered in Medinan society.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever takes care of an orphan and provides for him until he reaches maturity, I will be with him in Paradise like these two fingers' (pointing to his index and middle fingers) - Sahih Bukhari. Additionally, the Prophet stated: 'The best house among the Muslims is a house where orphans are well treated, and the worst house is where orphans are mistreated' - Sunan Ibn Majah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that orphans' wealth is a sacred trust that must be preserved and returned with integrity, teaching us that protecting the vulnerable is a fundamental Islamic value. It serves as a powerful reminder that all our actions, especially those affecting the weak and defenseless, are witnessed by Allah, and misusing their rights constitutes a grave sin that demands our utmost conscientiousness.
Related Ayahs
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۗ وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حَدِيثًا
Allāh - there is no deity except Him. He will surely assemble you for [account on] the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful than Allāh in statement.
لَّعَنَهُ ٱللَّهُ ۘ وَقَالَ لَأَتَّخِذَنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيبًا مَّفْرُوضًا
Whom Allāh has cursed. For he had said, "I will surely take from among Your servants a specific portion.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَرِثُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ كَرْهًا ۖ وَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ لِتَذْهَبُوا۟ بِبَعْضِ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ ۚ وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِن كَرِهْتُمُوهُنَّ فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَيَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا
O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear immorality [i.e., adultery]. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allāh makes therein much good.
وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ كَانُوا۟ لَكُمْ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا
And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.