Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 5

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Do not give the feeble-minded your property that Allah has made a means of support for you, and do feed them from it, and clothe them, and speak to them in fair words.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Do not entrust the incapable ˹among your dependants˺ with your wealth which Allah has made a means of support for you—but feed and clothe them from it, and speak to them kindly.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Do not give the feeble-minded your property, which Allah has made a means of livelihood for you, but feed and clothe them from it, and speak to them kindly.

A. J. Arberry

But do not give to fools their property that God has assigned to you to manage; provide for them and clothe them out of it, and speak to them honourable words.

Abdul Haleem

Do not entrust your property to the feeble-minded. God has made it a means of support for you: make provision for them from it, clothe them, and address them kindly.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And give not unto the weak-witted the substance which Allah made a stay for you, but feed them there out, Sand clothe them, and say unto them a reputable saying.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

To those weak of understanding Make not over your property, which Allah hath made a means of support for you, but feed and clothe them therewith, and speak to them words of kindness and justice.

Abul Ala Maududi

Do not entrust your properties - which Allah hasmade a means of support for you - to the weak of understanding, but maintain and clothe them out of it, and say to them a kind word of admonition.

Ahmed Ali

Do not entrust (their) property God has given you to maintain (On trust), to those who are immature; but feed them and clothe them from it, and speak to them with kindness.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And do not give the foolish their wealth which is in your custody – those for whom Allah has put you in charge to maintain (look after) – and feed and clothe them from it, and speak kindly to them.

Ali Quli Qarai

Do not give the feeble-minded your property, which Allah has assigned you to manage: provide for them out of it and clothe them, and speak to them honourable words.

Ali Ünal

Do not give to those of weak mind your property that God has put in your charge (as a means of support for you and for the needy), but feed and clothe them out of it (especially with the profit you will make by exploiting it), and speak to them kindly and words of honest advice.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And do not make over to the weak of understanding your property which Allâh has made a means of subsistence for you, but provide for them (their maintenance) and clothe them out of its profits and speak to them words of kind advice.

English Literal

And do not give the ignorant/foolish your properties , which God made for you keeping/taking care of (maintenance), and provide for them in it and dress/clothe them and say to them a kind/good/known saying.

Faridul Haque

And do not give the foolish their wealth which is in your custody - those for whom Allah has put you in charge to maintain (look after) - and feed and clothe them from it, and speak kindly to them.

Hamid S. Aziz

Men should have a portion of what their parents and kindred leave, and women should have a portion of what their parents and kindred leave, whether it be little or much, a determinate (legal) portion.

Hilali & Khan

And give not unto the foolish your property which Allah has made a means of support for you, but feed and clothe them therewith, and speak to them words of kindness and justice.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And give women their dowries as a free gift. But if they of themselves be pleased to give you a portion thereof, consume it with enjoyment and pleasure.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And do not give away your property which Allah has made for you a (means of) support to the weak of understanding, and maintain them out of (the profits of) it, and clothe them and speak to them words of honest advice.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Give not unto the foolish (what is in) your (keeping of their) wealth, which Allah hath given you to maintain; but feed and clothe them from it, and speak kindly unto them.

Muhammad Sarwar

Do not give to people weak of understanding your property for which God has made you to supervise. Feed and clothe such people and speak to them in a reasonable way.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Do not give the (orphaned) fools your wealth with which Allah has entrusted you for (their) support, and provide for them and clothe them from it, and speak to them with kind words.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And give not unto the unwise your wealth which Allah has made a means of support for you, but feed and clothe them therewith, and speak to them words of kindness and justice.

Wahiduddin Khan

Do not give those who are of immature mind your property which God has granted you as a means of support: make provision for them out of it, and clothe them, and give them good advice.

Talal Itani

Do not give the immature your money which God has assigned to you for support. But provide for them from it, and clothe them, and speak to them with kind words.

Tafsir jalalayn

But do not, O guardians, give to the foolish, the squanderers from among men, women and children, your property, that is, the property that is theirs but held by you, which God has assigned to you as maintenance (qiyman, `maintenance', is the verbal noun from qma; a variant reading has qiyaman, the plural of qma, `value', that is, that with which property is valued), meaning that the property which sustains your livelihoods and the well-being of your children, lest they expend it improperly; provide for them thereof, that is, feed them from it, and clothe them, and speak to them decent words, prepare for them a kind reception, by giving them their property when they reach maturity.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Holding the Property of the Unwise in Escrow

Allah

وَلَا تُوْتُواْ السُّفَهَاء أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَاماً

And give not unto the unwise your wealth which Allah has made a means of support for you,

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,
وَلَا تُوْتُواْ السُّفَهَاء أَمْوَالَكُمُ
(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 مَّعْرُوفًا



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 مَّعْرُوفًا
(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