Surah Nisa ayat 6 Tafsir Quran 4:6

﴿وَابْتَلُوا الْيَتَامَىٰ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغُوا النِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ آنَسْتُم مِّنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَادْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَا إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا أَن يَكْبَرُوا ۚ وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُوا عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ حَسِيبًا﴾
[ النساء: 6]

4:6 And test the orphans [in their abilities] until they reach marriageable age. Then if you perceive in them sound judgement, release their property to them. And do not consume it excessively and quickly, [anticipating] that they will grow up. And whoever, [when acting as guardian], is self-sufficient should refrain [from taking a fee]; and whoever is poor - let him take according to what is acceptable. Then when you release their property to them, bring witnesses upon them. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant.

Try test well the orphans before reaching maturity with regard the duties of religion and before they can legally manage their own affairs until they reach the age of marrying that is until they have become eligible for it through puberty or legal age which according to al-Shāfi‘ī is the completion of fifteen years; then if you perceive in them maturity that is right judgement in matters of religion and their property deliver their property to them; consume it not O guardians wastefully without due merit and in haste that is hastening to expend it fearing lest they should grow up and become mature at which time you will be obliged to hand it over to them. If any man who is a guardian is rich let him be abstinent that is let him abstain from the orphan’s property and refrain from consuming it; if he is poor let him consume of it honourably that is in line with the wage for his work. And when you deliver to them the orphans their property take witnesses over them that they have received it and that you are absolved of the obligation so that if any dispute occurs you are able to refer to a clear proof this is a command intended for guidance. God suffices as a reckoner as a guardian of His creatures’ deeds and as a reckoner of these deeds the bā’ in bi’Llāhi is extra.

And test the orphans now and then until they reach maturity and be fit -for marriage. If you feel they are characterized by good sense and prudence, then hand over to them their property and you must not abuse it nor act with expedition of time and events to absorb it or devour it before they come of age. And he who is entrusted with the property must not impose a liability or charge a fee for the execution of his functions, but be virtuous should he be wealthy and opulent. But if he is poor, then he may remunerate himself with equity. And when you hand over the, property to them -the orphans- you must have others witness the transfer, and sufficient is Allah to be Hasibun (a Witness Who calls to account)

Holding the Property of the Unwise in Escrow Allah prohibited giving the unwise the freedom to do as they wish with wealth, which Allah has made as a means of support for people.
This ruling sometimes applies because of being young, as young people are incapable of making wise decisions.
It also applies in cases of insanity, erratic behavior and having a weak intellect or religious practice.
It applies in cases of bankruptcy, when the debtors ask that the property of a bankrupt person is put in escrow, when his debts cannot be paid off with his money.
Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn `Abbas said that Allah's statement, وَلاَ تُؤْتُواْ السُّفَهَآءَ أَمْوَلَكُمُ ( And give not unto the unwise your property ) refers to children and women.
Similar was also said by Ibn Mas`ud, Al-Hakam bin `Uyaynah, Al-Hasan and Ad-Dahhak: "Women and boys." Sa`id bin Jubayr said that `the unwise' refers to the orphans.
Mujahid, `Ikrimah and Qatadah said; "They are women." Spending on the Unwise with Fairness Allah said, وَارْزُقُوهُمْ فِيهَا وَاكْسُوهُمْ وَقُولُواْ لَهُمْ قَوْلاً مَّعْرُوفاً ( but feed and clothe them therewith, and speak to them words of kindness and justice. ) `Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn `Abbas commented, "Do not give your wealth, what Allah has made you responsible for and made a means of sustenance to you, to your wife or children.
Rather, hold on to your money, take care of it, and be the one who spends on them for clothes, food and provision." Mujahid said that the Ayah, وَقُولُواْ لَهُمْ قَوْلاً مَّعْرُوفاً ( and speak to them words of kindness and justice. ) refers to kindness and keeping good relations.
This honorable Ayah commands kind treatment, in deed, with family and those under one's care.
One should spend on them for clothes and provisions, and be good to them, such as saying good words to them. Giving Back the Property of the Orphans When They Reach Adulthood Allah said, وَابْتَلُواْ الْيَتَـمَى ( And test orphans ) meaning, test their intelligence, as Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan stated. حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغُواْ النِّكَاحَ ( until they reach the age of marriage ), the age of puberty, according to Mujahid.
The age of puberty according to the majority of scholars comes when the child has a wet dream.
In his Sunan, Abu Dawud recorded that `Ali said, "I memorized these words from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ,
«لَا يُتْمَ بَعْدَ احْتِلَامٍ، وَلَا صُمَاتَ يَوْمٍ إِلَى اللَّيْل»
( There is no orphan after the age of puberty nor vowing to be silent throughout the day to the night. ) In another Hadith, `A'ishah and other Companions said that the Prophet said,
«رُفِعَ الْقَلَمُ عَنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ، عَنِ الصَّبِيِّ حَتَّى يَحْتَلِمَ، وَعَنِ النَّائِمِ حَتَّى يَسْتَيْقِظَ، وَعَنِ الْمَجْنُونِ حَتَّى يُفِيق»
( The pen does not record the deeds of three persons: the child until the age of puberty, the sleeping person until waking up, and the senile until sane. ) Or, the age of fifteen is considered the age of adolescence.
In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn `Umar said, "I was presented in front of the Prophet on the eve of the battle of Uhud, while I was fourteen years of age, and he did not allow me to take part in that battle.
But I was presented in front of him on the eve of the battle of Al-Khandaq ( The Trench ) when I was fifteen years old, and he allowed me ( to join that battle )." `Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz commented when this Hadith reached him, "This is the difference between a child and an adult." There is a difference of opinion over whether pubic hair is considered a sign of adulthood, and the correct opinion is that it is.
The Sunnah supports this view, according to a Hadith collected by Imam Ahmad from `Atiyah Al-Qurazi who said, We were presented to the Prophet on the day of Qurizah, whoever had pubic hair was killed, whoever did not was left free to go, I was one of those who did not, so I was left free." The Four Sunan compilers also recorded similar to it.
At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih." Allah's statement, فَإِنْ ءَانَسْتُمْ مِّنْهُمْ رُشْداً فَادْفَعُواْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَلَهُمْ ( if then you find sound judgment in them, release their property to them, ) Sa`id bin Jubayr said that this portion of the Ayah means, when you find them to be good in the religion and wise with their money.
Similar was reported from Ibn `Abbas, Al-Hasan Al-Basri and others among the Imams.
The scholars of Fiqh stated that when the child becomes good in the religion and wise concerning with money, then the money that his caretaker was keeping for him should be surrendered to him. Poor Caretakers are Allowed to Wisely Spend from the Money of theOrphan Under Their Care, to Compensate for Their Work Allah said, وَلاَ تَأْكُلُوهَآ إِسْرَافاً وَبِدَاراً أَن يَكْبَرُواْ ( But consume it not wastefully and hastily, fearing that they should grow up. ) Allah commands that the money of the orphan should not be spent unnecessarily, إِسْرَافاً وَبِدَاراً ( Wastefully and hastily ) for fear they might grow up.
Allah also commands, وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيّاً فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ( And whoever among guardians is rich, he should take no wages, ) Hence, the guardian who is rich and does not need the orphan's money, should not take any of it as wages. وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيراً فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ( but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. ) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `A'ishah said, "This Ayah, وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيّاً فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيراً فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ( And whoever among guardians is rich, he should take no wages, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. ) was revealed about the guardian of the orphan and pertains to whatever work he does for the orphan's estate.
" Al-Bukhari also collected this Hadith.
Imam Ahmad recorded that `Amr bin Shu`ayb said that his father said that his father told him that a man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , "I do not have money, but I have an orphan under my care." The Messenger ﷺ said,
«كُلْ مِنْ مَالِ يَتِيمِكَ غَيْرَ مُسْرِفٍ وَلَا مُبَذِّرٍ وَلَا مُتَأَثِّلٍ مَالًا، وَمِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تَقِيَ مَالَكَ أَوْ قَالَ تَفْدِيَ مَالَكَ بِمَالِه»
( Eat from your orphan's wealth without extravagance or wastefulness, or mixing it, and without saving your money by spending his. )" Allah said, فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَلَهُمْ ( And when you release their property to them. ) after they become adults, and you see that they are wise, then, فَأَشْهِدُواْ عَلَيْهِمْ ( take a witness in their presence; ) Allah commands the guardians of orphans to surrender the property of the orphans who become consenting adults, in the presence of witnesses, so that none of them denies the fact that he received his money.
Allah said next, وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ حَسِيباً ( and Allah is All-Sufficient in taking account. ) meaning, Allah is sufficient as Witness, Reckoner and Watcher over their work for orphans, and when they surrender their money to them, whether their property was complete and whole, or deficient and less.
Indeed, Allah knows all of that.
In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«يَا أَبَا ذَرَ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ ضَعِيفًا، وَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ مَا أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي، لَا تَأَمَّرَنَّ عَلَى اثْنَيْنِ، وَلَا تَلِيَنَّ مَالَ يَتِيم»
( O Abu Dharr! Verily, you are weak, and I love for you what I love for myself.
Do not become a leader of two nor assume guardianship of an orphan's property. )

(4:6) Test the orphans until they reach the age of marriage, *9 and then if you find them mature of mind hand over to them their property, *10 and do not eat it up by either spending extravagantly or in haste, fearing that they would grow up (and claim it). If the guardian of the orphan is rich let him abstain entirely (from his ward's property); and if he is poor, let him partake of it in a fair measure. *11 When you hand over their property to them let there be witnesses on their behalf. Allah is sufficient to take account (of your deeds).

And test the orphans [in their abilities] meaning

*9).
When such people approach their majority their mental development should be watched so as to determine to what extent they have become capable of managing their own affairs.

*10).
Two conditions have been laid down for handing over the charge of their properties to such people.
The first of these is the attainment of puberty, and the second is that of mental maturity - i.e.
the capacity to manage their affairs in a sound and appropriate manner.
There is full agreement among Muslim jurists with regard to the first condition.
As for the second condition, Abu Hanifah is of the opinion that if an orphan does not attain mental maturity after he has attained puberty, the guardian of the orphan should wait for a maximum of seven years after which he should hand over the property to its owner regardless of whether he has attained maturity or not.
According to Abu Yusuf, Muhammad b.
al-Hasan and Shafi'i, maturity is an indispensable pre-condition for the handing over of property.
If one were to apply the doctrine of the latter jurists it would probably be more appropriate to refer particular cases to a judge under Islamic law.
If the judge is convinced that the person concerned lacks maturity he should make adequate arrangements for the supervision of that person's financial affairs.
( For a more complete study of the subject see Jassas, vol.
2, pp.
59 ff.; Ibn Rushd, Biddyat al-Mujtahid, 2 vols., Cairo, Al-Maktabahal-Tijariyahal-Kubra, n.d., vol.
2, pp.
275ff.-Ed. )
*11).
The guardian is entitled to remuneration for his service.
The amount of this remuneration should be such as is deemed to be fair by neutral and reasonable people.
Moreover, the guardian is instructed that he should take a fixed and known amount by way of remuneration, that he should take it openly rather than secretly, and that he should keep an account of it.

 

Holding the Property of the Unwise in Escrow Allah prohibited giving the unwise the freedom to do as they wish with wealth, which Allah has made as a means of support for people.
This ruling sometimes applies because of being young, as young people are incapable of making wise decisions.
It also applies in cases of insanity, erratic behavior and having a weak intellect or religious practice.
It applies in cases of bankruptcy, when the debtors ask that the property of a bankrupt person is put in escrow, when his debts cannot be paid off with his money.
Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn `Abbas said that Allah's statement, وَلاَ تُؤْتُواْ السُّفَهَآءَ أَمْوَلَكُمُ ( And give not unto the unwise your property ) refers to children and women.
Similar was also said by Ibn Mas`ud, Al-Hakam bin `Uyaynah, Al-Hasan and Ad-Dahhak: "Women and boys." Sa`id bin Jubayr said that `the unwise' refers to the orphans.
Mujahid, `Ikrimah and Qatadah said; "They are women." Spending on the Unwise with Fairness Allah said, وَارْزُقُوهُمْ فِيهَا وَاكْسُوهُمْ وَقُولُواْ لَهُمْ قَوْلاً مَّعْرُوفاً ( but feed and clothe them therewith, and speak to them words of kindness and justice. ) `Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn `Abbas commented, "Do not give your wealth, what Allah has made you responsible for and made a means of sustenance to you, to your wife or children.
Rather, hold on to your money, take care of it, and be the one who spends on them for clothes, food and provision." Mujahid said that the Ayah, وَقُولُواْ لَهُمْ قَوْلاً مَّعْرُوفاً ( and speak to them words of kindness and justice. ) refers to kindness and keeping good relations.
This honorable Ayah commands kind treatment, in deed, with family and those under one's care.
One should spend on them for clothes and provisions, and be good to them, such as saying good words to them. Giving Back the Property of the Orphans When They Reach Adulthood Allah said, وَابْتَلُواْ الْيَتَـمَى ( And test orphans ) meaning, test their intelligence, as Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan stated. حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغُواْ النِّكَاحَ ( until they reach the age of marriage ), the age of puberty, according to Mujahid.
The age of puberty according to the majority of scholars comes when the child has a wet dream.
In his Sunan, Abu Dawud recorded that `Ali said, "I memorized these words from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , «لَا يُتْمَ بَعْدَ احْتِلَامٍ، وَلَا صُمَاتَ يَوْمٍ إِلَى اللَّيْل» ( There is no orphan after the age of puberty nor vowing to be silent throughout the day to the night. ) In another Hadith, `A'ishah and other Companions said that the Prophet said, «رُفِعَ الْقَلَمُ عَنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ، عَنِ الصَّبِيِّ حَتَّى يَحْتَلِمَ، وَعَنِ النَّائِمِ حَتَّى يَسْتَيْقِظَ، وَعَنِ الْمَجْنُونِ حَتَّى يُفِيق» ( The pen does not record the deeds of three persons: the child until the age of puberty, the sleeping person until waking up, and the senile until sane. ) Or, the age of fifteen is considered the age of adolescence.
In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn `Umar said, "I was presented in front of the Prophet on the eve of the battle of Uhud, while I was fourteen years of age, and he did not allow me to take part in that battle.
But I was presented in front of him on the eve of the battle of Al-Khandaq ( The Trench ) when I was fifteen years old, and he allowed me ( to join that battle )." `Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz commented when this Hadith reached him, "This is the difference between a child and an adult." There is a difference of opinion over whether pubic hair is considered a sign of adulthood, and the correct opinion is that it is.
The Sunnah supports this view, according to a Hadith collected by Imam Ahmad from `Atiyah Al-Qurazi who said, We were presented to the Prophet on the day of Qurizah, whoever had pubic hair was killed, whoever did not was left free to go, I was one of those who did not, so I was left free." The Four Sunan compilers also recorded similar to it.
At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih." Allah's statement, فَإِنْ ءَانَسْتُمْ مِّنْهُمْ رُشْداً فَادْفَعُواْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَلَهُمْ ( if then you find sound judgment in them, release their property to them, ) Sa`id bin Jubayr said that this portion of the Ayah means, when you find them to be good in the religion and wise with their money.
Similar was reported from Ibn `Abbas, Al-Hasan Al-Basri and others among the Imams.
The scholars of Fiqh stated that when the child becomes good in the religion and wise concerning with money, then the money that his caretaker was keeping for him should be surrendered to him. Poor Caretakers are Allowed to Wisely Spend from the Money of theOrphan Under Their Care, to Compensate for Their Work Allah said, وَلاَ تَأْكُلُوهَآ إِسْرَافاً وَبِدَاراً أَن يَكْبَرُواْ ( But consume it not wastefully and hastily, fearing that they should grow up. ) Allah commands that the money of the orphan should not be spent unnecessarily, إِسْرَافاً وَبِدَاراً ( Wastefully and hastily ) for fear they might grow up.
Allah also commands, وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيّاً فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ( And whoever among guardians is rich, he should take no wages, ) Hence, the guardian who is rich and does not need the orphan's money, should not take any of it as wages. وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيراً فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ( but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. ) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `A'ishah said, "This Ayah, وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيّاً فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيراً فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ( And whoever among guardians is rich, he should take no wages, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. ) was revealed about the guardian of the orphan and pertains to whatever work he does for the orphan's estate.
" Al-Bukhari also collected this Hadith.
Imam Ahmad recorded that `Amr bin Shu`ayb said that his father said that his father told him that a man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , "I do not have money, but I have an orphan under my care." The Messenger ﷺ said, «كُلْ مِنْ مَالِ يَتِيمِكَ غَيْرَ مُسْرِفٍ وَلَا مُبَذِّرٍ وَلَا مُتَأَثِّلٍ مَالًا، وَمِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تَقِيَ مَالَكَ أَوْ قَالَ تَفْدِيَ مَالَكَ بِمَالِه» ( Eat from your orphan's wealth without extravagance or wastefulness, or mixing it, and without saving your money by spending his. )" Allah said, فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَلَهُمْ ( And when you release their property to them. ) after they become adults, and you see that they are wise, then, فَأَشْهِدُواْ عَلَيْهِمْ ( take a witness in their presence; ) Allah commands the guardians of orphans to surrender the property of the orphans who become consenting adults, in the presence of witnesses, so that none of them denies the fact that he received his money.
Allah said next, وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ حَسِيباً ( and Allah is All-Sufficient in taking account. ) meaning, Allah is sufficient as Witness, Reckoner and Watcher over their work for orphans, and when they surrender their money to them, whether their property was complete and whole, or deficient and less.
Indeed, Allah knows all of that.
In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «يَا أَبَا ذَرَ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ ضَعِيفًا، وَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ مَا أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي، لَا تَأَمَّرَنَّ عَلَى اثْنَيْنِ، وَلَا تَلِيَنَّ مَالَ يَتِيم» ( O Abu Dharr! Verily, you are weak, and I love for you what I love for myself.
Do not become a leader of two nor assume guardianship of an orphan's property. )

( Prove orphans ) test the intelligence of orphans ( till they reach the marriageable age ) the age of puberty; ( then, if ye find them of ) if you see that they possess ( sound judgement ) righteousness in Religion and a tendency to protect their wealth, ( deliver over unto them their fortune ) then give their wealth which is with you; ( and devour it not squandering ) it in transgression and unlawfully ( and in haste ) in haste lest the orphan grows older and consumes it little by little ( lest they should grow up ) for fear that they grow older and stop you from devouring their wealth. ( Whoso (of the guardians ) is rich) and needs not the orphan’s wealth, ( let him abstain generously ) because of his richness from taking of the property of orphans, nor should he diminish anything from their wealth; ( and whoso is poor ) and needy ( let him take thereof in reason (for his guardianship )) in measure, such that he is not in need for the wealth of orphans; it is also said that this means: he should take from the wealth of orphans in proportion with the measure of his work regarding this wealth; and it is also said that this means: he can take from the wealth of orphans as a loan to be paid back. ( And when ye deliver up their fortune unto orphans ) when they reach the legal age, ( have (the transaction ) witnessed in their presence) when you deliver it to them. ( Allah sufficeth as a Reckoner ) Allah suffices as a witness. This verse was revealed about Thabit Ibn Rifa’ah al-Ansari.

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 work). And when you release their property to them, take witness in their presence; and Allah is All-Sufficient in taking account.

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