وَلَا تُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلسُّفَهَآءَ أَمْوَٰلَكُمُ ٱلَّتِى جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَـٰمًا وَٱرْزُقُوهُمْ فِيهَا وَٱكْسُوهُمْ وَقُولُوا۟ لَهُمْ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا 5
Translations
And do not give the weak-minded your property, which Allāh has made a means of sustenance for you, but provide for them with it and clothe them and speak to them words of appropriate kindness.
Transliteration
Wa lā tu'tū as-sufahā'a amwālakumu al-latī ja'ala Allāhu lakum qiyāman war-zuqūhum fīhā waksūhum wa qūlū lahum qawlan ma'rūfā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah forbids giving wealth to those of unsound judgment (as-sufahā'), while commanding that their sustenance and clothing be provided for them from that wealth by their guardians. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as protecting the interests of dependents (particularly women, orphans, and the mentally incompetent) whose judgment is impaired, while maintaining their dignity through kind and respectful speech. The phrase 'qiyāman' (foundation/sustenance) emphasizes that wealth is essential for life, making its protection a divine obligation.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa (The Women), revealed in Medina, and addresses the practical guardianship of those unable to manage wealth independently. It follows immediately after verses about orphans' inheritance and establishes the principle of protective guardianship in Islamic law, reflecting the Medinan period's focus on social welfare and family law.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari narrates that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best charity is when one is in need yet gives.' Related to guardianship: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith about treating women well emphasizes the respectful treatment (qawl ma'rūf) mandated in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that wealth is a sacred trust from Allah to be managed responsibly on behalf of vulnerable dependents, not for personal enrichment, and that protecting others' interests must always be paired with maintaining their human dignity through kind words and respectful treatment.
Related Ayahs
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَهُم ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
Have you not seen those who claim themselves to be pure? Rather, Allāh purifies whom He wills, and injustice is not done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed].
وَمَن يَكْسِبْ خَطِيٓـَٔةً أَوْ إِثْمًا ثُمَّ يَرْمِ بِهِۦ بَرِيٓـًٔا فَقَدِ ٱحْتَمَلَ بُهْتَـٰنًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا
But whoever earns an offense or a sin and then blames it on an innocent [person] has taken upon himself a slander and manifest sin.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ حَقًّا ۚ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا
Those are the disbelievers, truly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِمَآ أَرَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَلَا تَكُن لِّلْخَآئِنِينَ خَصِيمًا
Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], the Book in truth so you may judge between the people by that which Allāh has shown you. And do not be for the deceitful an advocate.