Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 9

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Those people should be fearful (in their behavior towards orphans) who, if they leave behind some helpless children, would remain anxious for them. So, they should fear Allah and say what is right.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Let the guardians be as concerned ˹for the orphans˺ as they would if they were to ˹die and˺ leave ˹their own˺ helpless children behind. So let them be mindful of Allah and speak equitably.

Ruwwad Translation Center

And let those [in charge of orphans] be cautious just as they themselves would be concerned had they left helpless offspring behind; let them fear Allah and say words of justice.

A. J. Arberry

And let those fear who, if they left behind them weak seed, would be afraid on their account, and let them fear God, and speak words hitting the mark.

Abdul Haleem

Let those who would fear for the future of their own helpless children, if they were to die, show the same concern [for orphans]; let them be mindful of God and speak out for justice.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And let them beware who, should they leave behind them a weakly progeny, would be afraid on their account; let them, wherefore, fear Allah, and says a proper saying.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Let those (disposing of an estate) have the same fear in their minds as they would have for their own if they had left a helpless family behind; Let them fear Allah, and speak words of appropriate (comfort).

Abul Ala Maududi

And let them fear, those who, if they would themselves leave behind helpless offspring, they would surely have been fearful on their account. Let them, then, fear Allah and make the right statement.

Ahmed Ali

Let people fear the day when they leave small children behind them unprovided, and how concerned they would be for them. So fear God and say the right things to them.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And those people must fear, who if they die leaving behind them young children would be afraid for them; so they must fear Allah and speak with fairness.

Ali Quli Qarai

Let those fear [the result of mistreating orphans] who, were they to leave behind weak offspring, would be concerned on their account. So let them be wary of Allah, and let them speak upright words.

Ali Ünal

Let those fear (be anxious for the rights of the orphans) who, if they (themselves) were to leave behind weak offspring, would be fearful on their account – and let them keep from disobedience to God for fear of His punishment, and let them speak the truth and proper words (in respect of the division of the inheritance and their treatment of the orphans.)

Amatul Rahman Omar

And let the persons (who divide the heritage) be afraid of Allâh, for if they leave behind them (their own) weak offspring they would be anxious on their account. Let them, therefore, keep their duty to Allâh and let them say the right thing.

English Literal

And those who, if they left from behind them weak descendants should fear, fear on them, and so they fear and obey (E) God, and they should say an accurate/truthful saying .

Faridul Haque

And those people must fear, who if they die leaving behind them young children would be afraid for them; so they must fear Allah and speak with fairness.

Hamid S. Aziz

Allah instructs you concerning your children; for a male the like of the portion of two females, and if there be more than two women, then let them have two-thirds of the inheritance; and if there be but one, then let her have a half. And as to the parents, to each of them a sixth of what he leaves, if he has a son; but if he have no son, and his parents inherit, then let his mother have a third, and if he have brethren, let his mother have a sixth after any legacy he bequeaths or debt has been paid. Your parents or your children, you know not which of them is nearest to you in usefulness. This is an ordinance from Allah; verily, Allah is Knower and Wise!

Hilali & Khan

And let those (executors and guardians) have the same fear in their minds as they would have for their own, if they had left weak offspring behind. So let them fear Allah and speak right words.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when relatives and the orphans and the needy are present at the division, give them out of it and speak to them kind words.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And let those fear who, should they leave behind them weakly offspring, would fear on their account, so let them be careful of (their duty to) Allah, and let them speak right words.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And let those fear (in their behaviour toward orphans) who if they left behind them weak offspring would be afraid for them. So let them mind their duty to Allah, and speak justly.

Muhammad Sarwar

Those who are concerned about the welfare of their own children after their death, should have fear of God (when dealing with the orphans) and guide them properly.

Qaribullah & Darwish

And let them fear, who, if they themselves left behind weak offspring, would be afraid for them, and let them fear Allah and speak exactly.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And let those (executors and guardians) have the same fear in their minds as they would have for their own, if they had left weak offspring behind. So, let them have Taqwa of Allah and speak truthfully.

Wahiduddin Khan

Those who are concerned about the fate of their own helpless children if they should die and leave them behind should show the same concern for orphans. Let them fear God and uphold justice.

Talal Itani

Those who are concerned about the fate of their weak children, in case they leave them behind, should fear God, and speak appropriate words.

Tafsir jalalayn

And let them fear, let them be concerned for the orphans, those who, if they, are about to, leave behind them, that is, after their death, weak offspring, young children, would be afraid for them; that they be ruined; let them fear God, in the matter concerning orphans, and let them give what they would love for their own offspring after their death; and speak, to the one approached by death, pertinent words, the right [words], by enjoining him to give as voluntary almsgiving no more than the third [of the inheritance], and leave the remainder for the ones inheriting, so that they do not end up as dependants.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

And let those (executors and guardians) have the same fear in their minds as they would have for their own, if they had left weak offspring behind. So, let them have Taqwa of Allah and speak truthfully.

وَلْيَخْشَ الَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُواْ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ
(And let those have the same fear in their minds as they would have for their own, if they had left behind...),

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said that this part of the Ayah,

"Refers to a man who is near death and he dictates a will and testament that harms some of the rightful inheritors.

Allah commands whoever hears such will to fear Allah, and direct the dying man to do what is right and to be fair, being as eager to protect the inheritors of the dying man as he would be with his own."

Similar was reported from Mujahid and several others.

The Two Sahihs record that;

when the Messenger of Allah visited Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas during an illness he suffered from, Sa`d said to the Messenger, "O Messenger of Allah! I am wealthy and have no inheritors except a daughter. Should I give two-thirds of my property in charity?"

He said, "No."

Sa`d asked, "Half."

He said, "No."

Sa`d said, "One-third."

The Prophet said;

الثُّلُثُ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِير

One-third, and even one-third is too much.

The Messenger of Allah then said,

إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَذَرَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَذَرَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاس

You'd better leave your inheritors wealthy rather than leaving them poor, begging from others.
A Stern Warning Against Those Who Use Up the Orphan's Wealth

It was also said that the Ayah
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَا إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا أَن يَكْبَرُواْ
(consume it not wastefully and hastily, fearing that they should grow up), (4;6) means,

let them have Taqwa of Allah when taking care of the orphan's wealth, as Ibn Jarir recorded from Al-Awfi who reported this explanation from Ibn Abbas.

This is a sound opinion that is supported by the warning that follows against consuming the orphan's wealth unjustly.

In this case, the meaning becomes;

Just as you would want your offspring to be treated fairly after you, then treat other people's offspring fairly when you are given the responsibility of caring for them.

Allah proclaims that those who unjustly consume the wealth of orphans, will be eating fire into their stomach, this is why Allah said,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ الْيَتَامَى ظُلْمًا إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًا