Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 182

Mufti Taqi Usmani

But, whoever apprehends a mistake (unintentional) or a sin (intentional) from a testator, and puts things right between them, then there is no sin on him. Surely, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Whoever suspects an error or an injustice in the will and brings about a ˹fair˺ settlement among the parties will not be sinful. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Ruwwad Translation Center

But if someone fears partiality or injustice from the testator, and puts things right between the parties, then there is no sin upon him, for Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

A. J. Arberry

But if any man fears injustice or sin from one making testament, and so makes things right between them, then sin shall not rest upon him; surely God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.

Abdul Haleem

But if anyone knows that the testator has made a mistake, or done wrong, and so puts things right between the parties, he will incur no sin: God is most forgiving and merciful.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

How beit whosoever apprehendeth from the testator a mistake or a sin and thereupon he maketh up the matter between them, on him there shall be no sin; verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But if anyone fears partiality or wrong-doing on the part of the testator, and makes peace between (The parties concerned), there is no wrong in him; For Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

Abul Ala Maududi

If, however. one apprehends genuinely that the testator had intentionally or unintentionally done some injustice, and then alters the will to set things right between the parties concerned, in that case he does not incur any sin. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

Ahmed Ali

He who suspects wrong or partiality on the part of the testator and brings about a settlement, does not incure any guilt, for God is verily forgiving and merciful.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Then if one fears that the will maker (the deceased) has done injustice or sin, and he makes a reconciliation between the parties, there shall be no sin upon him; indeed Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Ali Quli Qarai

But should someone, fearing deviance or sin on the testator’s behalf, set things right between them, there is no sin upon him. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.

Ali Ünal

But if anyone fears from the testator an injustice or sin and brings about a settlement between the parties (by making the necessary change), then no sin will be on him. Surely God is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate.

Amatul Rahman Omar

If anyone apprehends that the testator is partial or follows a sinful course there will be no blame on him provided he sets things right (and so brings about reconciliation) between them (- the parties concerned under the will). Surely, Allâh is Great Protector, Ever Merciful.

English Literal

So who feared from a bequeather deviation/injustice , or a sin/crime, so he corrected/reconciliated between them, so no sin/crime on him, that God (is) forgiving, most merciful .

Faridul Haque

Then if one fears that the will maker (the deceased) has done injustice or sin, and he makes a reconciliation between the parties, there shall be no sin upon him; indeed Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Hamid S. Aziz

And he who fears from the testator a wrong intention, or a crime, and does make peace between the parties, it is no sin to him; verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving and Merciful.

Hilali & Khan

But he who fears from a testator some unjust act or wrong-doing, and thereupon he makes peace between the parties concerned, there shall be no sin on him. Certainly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

But if one fears a wrong or a sinful course on the part of the testator, and effects an agreement between the parties, there is no blame on him. Surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

But he who fears an inclination to a wrong course or an act of disobedience on the part of the testator, and effects an agreement between the parties, there is no blame on him. Surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

But he who feareth from a testator some unjust or sinful clause, and maketh peace between the parties, (it shall be) no sin for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Muhammad Sarwar

One who is afraid of the testator's deviations and sin and settles the matter among the parties involved, he has not committed a sin. God is All-forgiving and All-merciful.

Qaribullah & Darwish

He who fears injustice or sin on the part of a testator and brings about a settlement among the parties incurs no guilt. Allah is the Forgiver and the Most Merciful.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

But he who fears from a testator some unjust act or wrongdoing, and thereupon he makes peace between the parties concerned, there shall be no sin on him. Certainly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Wahiduddin Khan

But if anyone apprehends partiality or an injustice on the part of a testator, it shall be no sin for him to bring about a settlement between the parties. God is forgiving and merciful.

Talal Itani

Should someone suspect bias or injustice on the part of a testator, and then reconciles between them, he commits no sin. God is Forgiving and Merciful.

Tafsir jalalayn

But if any one fears injustice, an error, in straying from what is right, or sin, because he has purposely increased the share of a third or specified a rich individual, from one making testament (read ms or muwass), and so makes things right between them, the testator and the trustee, by commanding that justice be done, then no sin shall be upon him, with regard to this matter; surely God is Forgiving, Merciful.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

But he who fears from a testator some unjust act or wrongdoing, and thereupon he makes peace between the parties concerned, there shall be no sin on him. Certainly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

فَمَنْ خَافَ مِن مُّوصٍ جَنَفًا أَوْ إِثْمًا
(But he who fears from a testator some unjust act or wrongdoing),

Ibn Abbas, Abu Al-Aliyah, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Ar-Rabi bin Anas and As-Suddi said,

"Error."

These errors include such cases;

as when the inheritor indirectly acquires more than his fair share, such as by being allocated that a certain item mentioned in the legacy be sold to him.

Or, the testator might include his daughter's son in the legacy to increase his daughter's share in the inheritance, and so forth.

Such errors might occur out of the kindness of the heart without thinking about the consequences of these actions, or by sinful intention.

In such cases, the executive of the will and testament is allowed to correct the errors and to replace the unjust items in the will with a better solution, so that both the Islamic law and what the dead person had wished for are respected and observed. This act would not constitute an alteration in the will and this is why Allah mentioned it specifically, so that it is excluded from the prohibition (that prohibits altering the will and testament) mentioned in the previous Ayah.

And Allah knows best.
The Virtue of Fairness in the Will

Abdur-Razzaq reported that Abu Hurayrah said that Allah's Messenger said;

إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْخَيْرِ سَبْعِينَ سَنَةً فَإِذَا أَوْصَى حَافَ فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ فَيُخْتَمُ لَه بِشَرِّ عَمَلِهِ فَيَدْخُلُ النَّارَ

وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الشَّرِّ سَبْعِينَ سَنَةً فَيَعْدِلُ فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ فَيُخْتَمُ لَهُ بِخَيْرِ عَمَلِهِ فَيَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّــة

A man might perform the works of righteous people for seventy years, but when he dictates his will, he commits injustice and thus his works end with the worst of his deeds and he enters the Fire.

A man might perform the works of evil people for seventy years, but then dictates a just will and thus ends with the best of his deeds and then enters Paradise.

Abu Hurayrah then said, "Read if you wish;

تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ فَلَ تَعْتَدُوهَا

These are the limits ordained by Allah, so do not transgress them." (2;229