Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 6

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Test the orphans until they reach the marriageable age. Then, if you perceive in them proper understanding, hand their property over to them, and do not consume it extravagantly and hastily, lest they should grow up. Whoever is rich should abstain (from using it for himself), and whoever is poor may have from it (to the extent of his necessary need) with fairness. So, when you hand their property over to them, make witnesses upon them. Allah is sufficient for reckoning

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Test ˹the competence of˺ the orphans until they reach a marriageable age. Then if you feel they are capable of sound judgment, return their wealth to them. And do not consume it wastefully and hastily before they grow up ˹to demand it˺. If the guardian is well-off, they should not take compensation; but if the guardian is poor, let them take a reasonable provision. When you give orphans back their property, call in witnesses. And sufficient is Allah as a ˹vigilant˺ Reckoner.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Test the orphans until they reach a marriageable age. Then if you perceive maturity in them, hand over their property to them, and do not consume it extravagantly and hastily, lest they should grow up. If the guardian is well-off, he should restrain himself entirely; but if he is poor, he may take a reasonable provision. When you hand over their property to them, call in witnesses. And Allah is sufficient as a Reckoner.

A. J. Arberry

Test well the orphans, until they reach the age of marrying; then, if you perceive in them right judgment, deliver to them their property; consume it not wastefully and hastily ere they are grown. If any man is rich, let him be abstinent; if poor, let him consume in reason. And when you deliver to them their property, take witnesses over them; God suffices for a reckoner.

Abdul Haleem

Test orphans until they reach marriageable age; then, if you find they have sound judgement, hand over their property to them. Do not consume it hastily before they come of age: if the guardian is well off he should abstain from the orphan’s property, and if he is poor he should use only what is fair. When you give them their property, call witnesses in; but God takes full account of everything you do.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And examine the orphans until they attain the age of wedlock, then if ye perceive in them and discretion, hand over unto them their substance, and consume it not extravagantly or hastily for fear that they may grow. And whosoever is rich, let him abstain, and whosoever is needy let him take thereof reputably. And when ye hand over their substance unto them, call in witnesses in their presence, and sufficeth Allah as a Reckoner.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Make trial of orphans until they reach the age of marriage; if then ye find sound judgment in them, release their property to them; but consume it not wastefully, nor in haste against their growing up. If the guardian is well-off, Let him claim no remuneration, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. When ye release their property to them, take witnesses in their presence; But all-sufficient is Allah in taking account.

Abul Ala Maududi

Test the orphans until they reach the age of marriage, and then if you find them mature of mind hand over to them their property, 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. When you hand over their property to them let there be witnesses on their behalf. Allah is sufficient to take account (of your deeds).

Ahmed Ali

And test (and try) the orphans until they are of marriageable age. If you find they have acquired sound judgement, then hand over their property to them; but devour not their wealth, nor use it up hastily out of fear that soon they will grow up (and demand it). And (the guardian) who is rich should abstain from spending much (of their wealth); and he who is poor should use only as much as is fair. And when you give back their possessions have this witnessed, (and remember) that God is sufficient to take all account.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And test the orphans till they are fit to get married (reach full age); then if you find them of proper judgement, hand over their wealth to them; and do not devour it by spending excessively and hastily, fearing that they will grow up; and whoever is not in need must abstain; and whoever is needy may use from it in a reasonable measure; and when you hand over their wealth to them, get witnesses over them; and Allah is Sufficient to take account.

Ali Quli Qarai

Test the orphans when they reach the age of marriage. Then if you discern in them maturity, deliver to them their property. And do not consume it lavishly and hastily lest they should grow up. As for him who is well-off, let him be abstemious, and as for him who is poor, let him eat in an honourable manner. And when you deliver to them their property, take witnesses over them, and Allah suffices as reckoner.

Ali Ünal

(Care for and) test the orphans well until they reach the age of marriage. Then, if you find them to be mature of mind, hand over to them their property; and do not consume it by wasteful spending, nor do so in haste fearing that they will come of age (and so take it over). If the guardian is rich (enough to support himself and his family), let him abstain (from his ward’s property); but if he is poor, let him consume thereof in a just and reasonable manner. When you hand (their property) over to them, let there be witnesses on their behalf. God suffices as One Who reckons and settles the accounts (of His servants).

Amatul Rahman Omar

And keep on testing the orphans until they attain the (age of) marriage, then if you perceive in them sound judgment deliver to them their property and do not consume it extravagantly and hastily as they grow up (fearing lest they should claim it when they attain majority). And let him (- the guardian) who can afford to do without, let him avoid remuneration, but he who is needy may charge reasonable remuneration with equity. And when you hand over to them (- the orphans) their property let there be some witnesses to attest. And Allâh is enough as a Reckoner (and call you to account).

English Literal

And test the orphans until when they reached the marriage, so if you perceived from them correct guidance , so pay to them their properties/possessions and do not eat it excess of the limit/extravagance hastening that they become old, and who was/is rich, so he should refrain/restrict (E) and who was/is poor, so he should eat with the kindness , so if you paid to them their properties/possessions, so call a witness on them and (it is) enough with God counting/calculating.

Faridul Haque

And test the orphans till they are fit to get married (reach full age); then if you find them of proper judgement, hand over their wealth to them; and do not devour it by spending excessively and hastily, fearing that they will grow up; and whoever is not in need must abstain; and whoever is needy may use from it in a reasonable measure; and when you hand over their wealth to them, get witnesses over them; and Allah is Sufficient to take account.

Hamid S. Aziz

If at the time of division, other relatives, orphans or the poor are present, then bestow on them out of it, and speak to them in words of reason and kindness.

Hilali & Khan

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.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And make not over your property, which Allah has made a (means of) support for you, to the weak of understanding, and maintain them out of it, and clothe them and give them a good education.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And test the orphans until they attain puberty; then if you find in them maturity of intellect, make over to them their property, and do not consume it extravagantly and hastily, lest they attain to full age; and whoever is rich, let him abstain altogether, and whoever is poor, let him eat reasonably; then when you make over to them their property, call witnesses in their presence; and Allah is enough as a Reckoner.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Prove orphans till they reach the marriageable age; then, if ye find them of sound judgment, deliver over unto them their fortune; and devour it not by squandering and in haste lest they should grow up Whoso (of the guardians) is rich, let him abstain generously (from taking of the property of orphans); and whoso is poor let him take thereof in reason (for his guardianship). And when ye deliver up their fortune unto orphans, have (the transaction) witnessed in their presence. Allah sufficeth as a Reckoner.

Muhammad Sarwar

Before returning orphan's property to them, make sure that they have reached maturity. Do not consume their property wastefully until such a time. The rich (guardian) should not take any of his ward's property. However, a poor (guardian) may use a reasonable portion. When you return their property, make sure you have witness. God is a perfect in taking accounts.

Qaribullah & Darwish

And test the orphans until they reach (the age of) marriage. If you perceive in them right judgment, hand over to them their wealth, and do not consume it wastefully, nor hastily before they are grown. And whosoever is rich let him abstain, if poor, let him consume with kindness. When you hand over to them their wealth, take witness over them; it is sufficient that Allah is the Reckoner.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And test orphans until they reach the age of marriage; if then you find sound judgment in them, release their property to them, but consume it not wastefully and hastily, fearing that they should grow up. 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 (according to his work). And when you release their property to them, take a witness in their presence; and Allah is All-Sufficient in taking account.

Wahiduddin Khan

Keep a close check on orphans till they attain the age of marriage; then, if you find them to be mature of mind, hand over their property to them. Do not consume it by wasteful spending, before they come of age. If the guardian is affluent, let him abstain altogether, and if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. When you hand over their property to them, call witnesses in their presence; God is sufficient as a Reckoner.

Talal Itani

Test the orphans until they reach the age of marriage. If you find them to be mature enough, hand over their properties to them. And do not consume it extravagantly or hastily before they grow up. The rich shall not charge any wage, but the poor may charge fairly. When you hand over their properties to them, have it witnessed for them. God suffices as a Reckoner.

Tafsir jalalayn

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-Shfi`, 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 b' [in bi'Llhi] is extra).

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَابْتَلُواْ الْيَتَامَى

And test orphans,

Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan stated,

meaning, test their intelligence.

حَتَّىَ إِذَا بَلَغُواْ النِّكَاحَ

until they reach the age of marriage,

According to Mujahid,

the age of puberty.

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 ,

لَاا يُتْمَ بَعْدَ احْتِلَامٍ وَلَاا 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, Aishah and other Companions said that;

the Prophet said,

رُفِعَ الْقَلَمُ عَنْ ثَلَثَةٍ

عَنِ الصَّبِيِّ حَتَّى يَحْتَلِمَ

وَعَنِ النَّايِمِ 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 انَسْتُم مِّنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَادْفَعُواْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ

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 the Orphan Under Their Care, to Compensate for Their Work

Allah said,

وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَا إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا 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,
إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا
(Wastefully and hastily) for fear they might grow up.

Allah also commands,

وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيًّا 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 فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ

but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Aishah said,

"This Ayah,
وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ

وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرًا 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, "I do not have money, but I have an orphan under my care."

The Messenger said,

كُلْ مِنْ مَالِ يَتِيمِكَ غَيْرَ مُسْرِفٍ وَلَا مُبَذِّرٍ وَلَا مُتَأَثِّلٍ مَالاً 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 أَمْوَالَهُمْ

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 بِاللّهِ حَسِيبًا



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 said,

يَا أَبَا ذَرَ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ ضَعِيفًا وَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ مَا أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي لَاا تَأَمَّرَنَّ عَلَى اثْنَيْنِ وَلَاا 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