Surah Al-Baqarah — Verse 220

Word Meanings:

• Al-Yatāmā (الْيَتَامَىٰ): Orphans — children who have lost their fathers before reaching the age of maturity.
• Iṣlāḥ (إِصْلَاحٌ): Setting things right; acting in the best interest of the orphan's wealth and well-being.
• Tukhāliṭūhum (تُخَالِطُوهُمْ): To mix or share your wealth and daily affairs with them — such as living together, eating together, or managing joint resources.
• Aʿnata (أَعْنَتَكُمْ): To impose hardship and difficulty upon you; to make something severely burdensome.

Tafsir (Explanation):

After guiding you to reflect deeply on what benefits you in this life and the Hereafter, Allah turns to a practical concern that weighed heavily on the early Muslims. When the verse prohibiting approaching the orphan's wealth was revealed, the companions became extremely cautious — some even stopped eating from the same pot or sharing a home with orphans, fearing they might fall into sin. This created great hardship, so they asked the Prophet (peace be upon him): *How should we deal with orphans?*

Allah answered: "Say: Setting things right for them is better." This means that acting in the orphan's best interest — protecting their wealth, growing it wisely, and ensuring their welfare — is far better than avoiding them altogether. Even if you receive no payment or reward for this service, your sincere care is a noble act that Allah loves and will reward abundantly.

Then Allah adds a beautiful concession: "And if you mix with them, then they are your brothers." The orphan is not a stranger to be avoided — he is your brother in faith. Just as a brother shares in family life, helps and supports, so too can you share your food, your home, and your daily affairs with the orphan. There is no sin in this, provided your intention is good and you do not consume their wealth unjustly.

But Allah, in His perfect justice, reminds us: "And Allah knows the one who causes corruption from the one who sets things right." Nothing is hidden from Him. He sees the heart of the guardian who secretly devours an orphan's inheritance, and He sees the heart of the one who carefully preserves and grows it. No deception can escape His knowledge.

Then comes a profound expression of divine mercy: "And had Allah willed, He could have made it difficult for you." He could have prohibited all mixing with orphans entirely, making life unbearably hard. But He did not — because His religion is built on ease, not hardship. He opened the door of permissible interaction while holding you accountable for your intentions.

The verse closes with two of Allah's beautiful names: "Indeed, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise." He is All-Mighty — nothing can overcome His decree, and He has full power to hold every soul accountable. He is All-Wise — every command and permission He gives is perfectly suited to His creation's needs, balancing justice with mercy.

A Da'wah Reflection:

This verse is a shining example of how Islam cares for the vulnerable. The orphan — who has lost the one who protected and provided for him — is not left abandoned. Instead, Allah makes the entire Muslim community his family. When you care for an orphan, you are not just doing a good deed; you are stepping into the role of a parent, a brother, a protector — and the Prophet (peace be upon him) promised that the one who cares for an orphan will be close to him in Paradise, like two fingers of the same hand.

Notice also the beauty of Islamic law: it does not demand perfection that leads to hardship, nor does it leave doors open that lead to harm. It balances the two — guiding you to the best path while making room for your human circumstances. This is the wisdom of the All-Wise, and the mercy of the All-Mighty. So open your heart to the orphans around you — feed them, guide them, protect their rights — and know that Allah sees your effort and will never let it go to waste.