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
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ خُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ فَٱنفِرُوا۟ ثُبَاتٍ أَوِ ٱنفِرُوا۟ جَمِيعًا
O you who have believed, take your precaution and [either] go forth in companies or go forth all together.
وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَتَبَدَّلُوا۟ ٱلْخَبِيثَ بِٱلطَّيِّبِ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حُوبًا كَبِيرًا
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.
وَٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ أَن تَمِيلُوا۟ مَيْلًا عَظِيمًا
Allāh wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation.
وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُوا۟ فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَآءً ۖ فَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ حَتَّىٰ يُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَخُذُوهُمْ وَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allāh. But if they turn away [i.e., refuse], then seize them and kill them [for their betrayal] wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper,