سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 6
وَٱبْتَلُوا۟ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغُوا۟ ٱلنِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ ءَانَسْتُم مِّنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَٱدْفَعُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَآ إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا أَن يَكْبَرُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًا ﴿6﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And try orphans (as regards their intelligence) until they reach the age of marriage; if then you find sound judgement in them, release their property to them, but consume it not wastefully and hastily fearing that they should grow up, and whoever (amongst guardians) is rich, he should take no wages, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable (according to his labour). And when you release their property to them, take witness in their presence; and Allâh is All-Sufficient in taking account.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱبْتَلُوا۟
wa-ib'talū
And test
ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ
l-yatāmā
the orphans
حَتَّىٰٓ
ḥattā
until
إِذَا
idhā
[when]
بَلَغُوا۟
balaghū
they reach[ed]
ٱلنِّكَاحَ
l-nikāḥa
(the age of) marriage
فَإِنْ
fa-in
then if
ءَانَسْتُم
ānastum
you perceive
مِّنْهُمْ
min'hum
in them
رُشْدًۭا
rush'dan
sound judgement
فَٱدْفَعُوٓا۟
fa-id'faʿū
then deliver
إِلَيْهِمْ
ilayhim
to them
أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ ۖ
amwālahum
their wealth
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَأْكُلُوهَآ
takulūhā
eat it
إِسْرَافًۭا
is'rāfan
extravagantly
وَبِدَارًا
wabidāran
and hastily
أَن
an
(fearing) that
يَكْبَرُوا۟ ۚ
yakbarū
they will grow up
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
كَانَ
kāna
is
غَنِيًّۭا
ghaniyyan
rich
فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ۖ
falyastaʿfif
then he should refrain
وَمَن
waman
and whoever
كَانَ
kāna
is
فَقِيرًۭا
faqīran
poor
فَلْيَأْكُلْ
falyakul
then let him eat (of it)
بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ
bil-maʿrūfi
in a fair manner
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
Then when
دَفَعْتُمْ
dafaʿtum
you deliver
إِلَيْهِمْ
ilayhim
to them
أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ
amwālahum
their wealth
فَأَشْهِدُوا۟
fa-ashhidū
then take witnesses
عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ
ʿalayhim
on them
وَكَفَىٰ
wakafā
And is sufficient
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
Allah
حَسِيبًۭا
ḥasīban
(as) a Reckoner
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
6. 1. After giving necessary instructions regarding the wealth of orphans, the purpose of saying this is that as long as it remained with you, how did you protect it, and when you handed over the wealth to them, did you make any decrease, increase, or any kind of alteration in it or not? Ordinary people may not know about your trustworthiness or betrayal. But nothing is hidden from Allah Almighty. That is why it is mentioned in the hadith that this is a very responsible task. The Prophet ﷺ said to Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him): "Abu Dharr! I see you as weak, and I like for you what I like for myself. Do not become a leader over even two people, nor a guardian and caretaker of an orphan's wealth." (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Imarah)
