Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 33

Mufti Taqi Usmani

For everyone We have made heirs in what the parents and the nearest of kin have left. As for those with whom you have made a pledge, give them their shares. Surely, Allah is Witness over everything.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And We have appointed heirs to what has been left by parents and next of kin. As for those you have made a pledge to, give them their share.[[ This pledge was a common practice before Islam between friends and allies—taking oaths to inherit each other. This practice came to an end with the revelation of verse {8:75} of the Quran. Although friends and allies do not have a share in inheritance anymore, they still can get some of the estate through bequest.]] Surely Allah is a Witness over all things.

Ruwwad Translation Center

For everyone We have appointed heirs to what parents and close relatives leave behind. As for those to whom you have made a pledge, give them their share. Indeed, Allah is Witness over all things.

A. J. Arberry

To everyone We have appointed heirs of that which parents and kinsmen leave, and those with whom you have sworn compact. So give to them their share; God is witness over everything.

Abdul Haleem

We have appointed heirs for everything that parents and close relatives leave behind, including those to whom you have pledged your hands [in marriage], so give them their share: God is witness to everything.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And unto each We have appointed inheritors of that which the parents or the near of kin leave behind, and unto those with whom ye have made your pledges give their portion. Verily Allah is ever of everything a Witness.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

To (benefit) every one, We have appointed shares and heirs to property left by parents and relatives. To those, also, to whom your right hand was pledged, give their due portion. For truly Allah is witness to all things.

Abul Ala Maududi

And to everyone We have appointed rightful heirs to what the parents and near of kin might leave behind. As to those with whom you have made a solemn covenant, give them their share. Allah watches over all things.

Ahmed Ali

For each We have appointed heirs to what parents and relatives leave behind. And to those you have given your pledge in marriage give their share, for God is witness to everything.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And for all, We have appointed heirs – from whatever the parents and near relatives leave behind; and to those with whom you have made an agreement, give them their dues; indeed all things are present before Allah.

Ali Quli Qarai

For everyone We have appointed heirs to what the parents and near relatives leave, as well as those with whom you have made a compact; so give them their share [of the heritage]. Indeed Allah is witness to all things.

Ali Ünal

And to everyone We have appointed heirs to what the parents and near kindred might leave behind. (As those heirs have defined portions in the inheritance that must be given them,) so to those with whom you have made a solemn covenant, give them their due share. God is indeed a witness over everything.

Amatul Rahman Omar

We have appointed heirs to everyone respecting that which the parents and the near relatives leave behind. And those with whom you have entered into a solemn covenant (- the husband and wife), so give them their due. Surely, Allâh is ever a Witness over everything.

English Literal

And to each We made guardians/relatives (heirs) from what the parents and the nearest/relations left, and those who your oaths (had) determined/intended (you mad a contract with), so give them their share, that God was/is on every thing a witness/present.

Faridul Haque

And for all, We have appointed heirs - from whatever the parents and near relatives leave behind; and to those with whom you have made an agreement, give them their dues; indeed all things are present before Allah.

Hamid S. Aziz

And if you fear a breach between the two (husband and wife), then appoint an arbiter from his people and an arbiter from her people. If they wish for reconciliation, Allah will arrange between them; verily, Allah is Knower and Aware.

Hilali & Khan

And to everyone, We have appointed heirs of that (property) left by parents and relatives. To those also with whom you have made a pledge (brotherhood), give them their due portion (by Wasiya - wills, etc.). Truly, Allah is Ever a Witness over all things.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And covet not that by which Allah has made some of you excel others. For men is the benefit of what they earn. And for women is the benefit of what they earn. And ask Allah of His grace. Surely Allah is ever Knower of all things.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And to every one We have appointed heirs of what parents and near relatives leave; and as to those with whom your rights hands have ratified agreements, give them their portion; surely Allah is a witness over all things.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And unto each We have appointed heirs of that which parents and near kindred leave; and as for those with whom your right hands have made a covenant, give them their due. Lo! Allah is ever Witness over all things.

Muhammad Sarwar

We have chosen heirs for every legacy that parents and relatives may leave. Let those who have been promised a bequest receive their share of the legacy. God is Omnipresent.

Qaribullah & Darwish

To everyone we have made heirs of that which parents and kinsmen leave, and those with whom you have sworn an agreement, so give to them their share. Allah is Witness over everything.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And to everyone, We have appointed Mawali of that left by parents and relatives. To those also with whom you have made a pledge (brotherhood), give them their due portion (by wills). Truly, Allah is Ever a Witness over all things.

Wahiduddin Khan

We have appointed heirs for everything that parents and close relatives leave behind. As for those with whom you have entered into agreements, let them, too, have their due. God is witness to all things.

Talal Itani

To everyone We have assigned beneficiaries in what is left by parents and relatives. Those with whom you have made an agreement, give them their share. God is Witness over all things.

Tafsir jalalayn

To each, man and woman, We have appointed heirs, relations to be given, of that, property, which parents and kinsmen leave, for them, and to those to whom your right hands (aymn, plural of yamn, meaning `oath' or `hand') were pledged (read `qadat or `aqadat), that is, those allies with whom before the coming of Islam you made covenants of mutual assitance and inheritance. So give them, now, their share, their portions of the inheritance, which is a sixth. God is ever Witness over everything, [ever] aware [of it], including your circumstances; this verse was abrogated by His words, But those related by blood are nearer to one another [Q. 8;75 and 33;6].

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah says;

وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِيَ

And to everyone, We have appointed Mawali, of that left by parents and relatives.

Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Salih, Qatadah, Zayd bin Aslam, As-Suddi, Ad-Dahhak, Muqatil bin Hayyan, and others said;
Mawali means, "Heirs."

Ibn Abbas was also reported to have said that;
Mawali refers to relatives.

Ibn Jarir commented,

"The Arabs call the cousin a Mawla."

Ibn Jarir continued, "Allah's statement,

مِمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالَاقْرَبُونَ

of that (property) left by parents and relatives.

means, from what he inherited from his parents and family members.

Therefore, the meaning of the Ayah becomes;`To all of you, O people, We appointed relatives (such as children) who will later inherit what you inherited from your own parents and relatives."

Allah's statement,

وَالَّذِينَ عَقَدَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ فَأتُوهُمْ نَصِيبَهُمْ

To those also with whom you have made a pledge (brotherhood), give them their due portion.

means, "Those with whom you have a pledge of brotherhood, give them their share of inheritance, thus fulfilling the ratified pledges that you gave them. Allah has witnessed all of you when you gave these pledges and promises."

إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدًا



Truly, Allah is Ever a Witness over all things.

This practice was followed in the beginning of Islam, but was later on abrogated when Muslims were commanded to fulfill the pledges (brotherhood) they had already given, but to refrain from making any new pledges after that.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn Abbas said,
وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِيَ
(And to everyone, We have appointed Mawali),

"meaning, heirs;
وَالَّذِينَ عَقَدَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ
(To those also with whom you have made a pledge (brotherhood). When the emigrants came to Al-Madinah, the emigrant would inherit from the Ansar, while the latter's relatives would not inherit from him because of the bond of brotherhood which the Prophet established between them (the emigrants and the Ansar). When the verse,
وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِيَ
(And to everyone We have appointed Mawali) was revealed, it cancelled (the pledge of brotherhood regarding inheritance)."

Then he said,

"The verse,
وَالَّذِينَ عَقَدَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ فَأتُوهُمْ نَصِيبَهُمْ
(To those also with whom you have made a pledge (brotherhood), give them their due portion) remained valid for cases of co-operation and mutual advice, while the matter of inheritance was excluded and it became permissible to assign something in one's will to the person who had the right of inheriting before.