وَيَسْتَفْتُونَكَ فِى ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِيهِنَّ وَمَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ فِى يَتَـٰمَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ ٱلَّـٰتِى لَا تُؤْتُونَهُنَّ مَا كُتِبَ لَهُنَّ وَتَرْغَبُونَ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ وَٱلْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلْوِلْدَٰنِ وَأَن تَقُومُوا۟ لِلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمًا 127
Translations
And they request from you, [O Muḥammad], a [legal] ruling concerning women. Say, "Allāh gives you a ruling about them and [about] what has been recited to you in the Book concerning the orphan girls to whom you do not give what is decreed for them - and [yet] you desire to marry them - and concerning the oppressed among children and that you maintain for orphans [their rights] in justice." And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing of it.
Transliteration
Wa yastaftūnaka fil-nisā'i qul-Allah yaftīkum fīhinna wa mā yutlā 'alaykum fil-kitābi fī yatāmā an-nisā'il-latī lā tu'ūtūnahunna mā kutiba lahunna wa targhbūna an tankihūhunna wal-mustada'afīna min-al-wildān wa an taqūmū lil-yatāmā bil-qist wa mā taf'alū min khayrin fa-inna-Allāha kāna bihī 'alīmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses questions posed to the Prophet (ﷺ) regarding the treatment of orphan women and their rights. Allah instructs that His guidance in the Qur'an regarding orphan women—particularly concerning the prohibition of withholding their prescribed inheritance while desiring to marry them—is the ruling to follow. The ayah emphasizes justice ('qist') toward orphans and vulnerable children, warning against exploitation and commanding equitable treatment, while reassuring believers that Allah is fully aware of all righteous deeds.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa (revealed in Madinah), which comprehensively addresses women's rights, inheritance, and social protection during the early Islamic period. The specific context relates to pre-Islamic Arabian practices where guardians would unjustly withhold orphan girls' wealth while desiring to marry them. The ayah was revealed to establish clear Islamic legal protections for vulnerable women and children.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (Book of Guardianship) reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) warned: 'Whoever takes care of an orphan girl until she reaches maturity will be with me in Paradise like two fingers of a hand.' This hadith reinforces the ayah's emphasis on just treatment of orphans.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must safeguard the rights and property of vulnerable individuals, particularly orphans, with complete honesty and justice, recognizing that Allah monitors all actions. This ayah calls modern Muslims to establish robust systems of protection for the marginalized and to resist any temptation to exploit dependence or guardianship positions for personal gain.