Surah Al-Baqarah — Verse 220
The Cow · 2:220 · 220/286
فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۗ وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ ۖ قُلْ إِصْلَاحٌ لَّهُمْ خَيْرٌ ۖ وَإِن تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ ٱلْمُفْسِدَ مِنَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَعْنَتَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
Fee addunya wal-akhiratiwayas-aloonaka AAani alyatama qul islahunlahum khayrun wa-in tukhalitoohum fa-ikhwanukumwallahu yaAAlamu almufsida mina almuslihiwalaw shaa Allahu laaAAnatakum inna AllahaAAazeezun hakeem
Translations of this verse 7
Saheeh International
To this world and the Hereafter. And they ask you about orphans. Say, "Improvement for them is best. And if you mix your affairs with theirs - they are your brothers. And Allāh knows the corrupter from the amender. And if Allāh had willed, He could have put you in difficulty. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise."
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
on this world and the next. They ask you about [the property of] orphans: say, ‘It is good to set things right for them. If you combine their affairs with yours, remember they are your brothers and sisters: God knows those who spoil things and those who improve them. Had He so willed, He could have made you vulnerable too: He is almighty and wise.’
Marmaduke Pickthall
Upon the world and the Hereafter. And they question thee concerning orphans. Say: To improve their lot is best. And if ye mingle your affairs with theirs, then (they are) your brothers. Allah knoweth him who spoileth from him who improveth. Had Allah willed He could have overburdened you. Allah is Mighty, Wise.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
(Their bearings) on this life and the Hereafter. They ask thee concerning orphans. Say: "The best thing to do is what is for their good; if ye mix their affairs with yours, they are your brethren; but Allah knows the man who means mischief from the man who means good. And if Allah had wished, He could have put you into difficulties: He is indeed Exalted in Power, Wise."
Mufti Taqi Usmani
on this world and the Hereafter. They ask you about the orphans. Say, “To work for their good is good. And if you live with them jointly, they are, after all, your brethren.”; and Allah knows the one who makes mischief, as distinct from the one who promotes good. And if Allah had wished, He would have put you in trouble. Surely, Allah is Mighty, Wise.
Al-Hilali & Khan
In (to) this worldly life and in the Hereafter. And they ask you concerning orphans. Say: "The best thing is to work honestly in their property, and if you mix your affairs with theirs, then they are your brothers. And Allâh knows him who means mischief (e.g. to swallow their property) from him who means good (e.g. to save their property). And if Allâh had wished, He could have put you into difficulties. Truly, Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise."
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
both in regard to this world and the Next. They question you concerning orphans. Say: “To deal with them in the way which is to their good, that is best. And if you intermix (your expenses and living) with them, (there is no harm for) they are your brothers.” Allah knows the mischievous from the righteous, and had Allah willed, He would indeed have imposed on you exacting conditions; but He is All-Powerful, Most Wise.
Reason for Revelation Asbāb al-Nuzūl
Arabic source: al-Wāḥidī / al-Suyūṭī, via Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies (CC BY 4.0)
قال تعالى: {وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْيَتَامَى قُلْ إِصْلَاحٌ لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ وَإِنْ تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ الْمُفْسِدَ مِنَ الْمُصْلِحِ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَأَعْنَتَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ} [البقرة: 220].
40 - عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: لَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ {وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ}، و {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ الْيَتَامَى ظُلْمًا} الآيَة، انْطَلَقَ مَنْ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ يَتِيمٌ، فَعَزَلَ طَعَامَهُ مِنْ طَعَامِهِ، وَشَرَابَهُ مِنْ شَرَابِهِ، فَجَعَلَ يَفْضُلُ مِنْ طَعَامِهِ فَيُحْبَسُ لَهُ حَتَّى يَأْكُلَهُ أَوْ يَفْسُدَ، فَاشْتَدَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَذَكَرُوا ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم -، فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: {وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْيَتَامَى قُلْ إِصْلَاحٌ لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ وَإِنْ تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ}، فَخَلَطُوا طَعَامَهُمْ بِطَعَامِهِ، وَشَرَابَهُمْ بِشَرَابِهِ ¬أخرجه أبو داود برقم: 2871، والنسائي: 6/ 256، برقم: 3669، والكبرى برقم: 6494، والحاكم: 2/ 278، وأحمد: 1/ 325، والبيهقي: 5/ 258، 6/ 5، وصححه الحاكم ووافقه الذهبي، وحسنه أحمد شاكر، والألباني، وهو كما قالا. وزاد السيوطي عزوه في الدر: 1/ 255 لابن المنذر وابن أبي حاتم، وأبي الشيخ، وابن مردويه ..¥.
41 - عن قتادة رَحَمِهُ اللهُ قال: لما نزلت {وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ}، اعتزل الناس اليتامى، فلم يخالطوهم في مأكل ولا مشرب ولا مال، قال: فشق ذلك على الناس، فسألوا رسول الله، فأنزل الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: {وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْيَتَامَى قُلْ إِصْلَاحٌ لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ وَإِنْ تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ} ¬أخرجه ابن جرير في التفسير: 2/ 370 وإسناده صحيح إلى قتادة، وهو مرسل صحيح، يشهد له الحديث السابق.¥.