وَلَا تُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلسُّفَهَآءَ أَمْوَٰلَكُمُ ٱلَّتِى جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَٰمًۭا وَٱرْزُقُوهُمْ فِيهَا وَٱكْسُوهُمْ وَقُولُوا۟ لَهُمْ قَوْلًۭا مَّعْرُوفًۭا
Dan janganlah kamu serahkan kepada orang-orang yang belum sempurna akalnya, harta (mereka yang ada dalam kekuasaanmu) yang dijadikan Allah sebagai pokok kehidupan. Berilah mereka belanja dan pakaian (dari hasil harta itu) dan ucapkanlah kepada mereka kata-kata yang baik.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Holding the Property of the Unwise in Escrow
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,
وَلاَ تُؤْتُواْ السُّفَهَآءَ أَمْوَلَكُمُ
(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 مَّعْرُوفاً
(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 مَّعْرُوفاً
(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,
وَابْتَلُواْ الْيَتَـمَى
(And test orphans) meaning, test their intelligence, as Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan stated.
حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغُواْ النِّكَاحَ
(until they reach the age of marriage), the age of puberty, according to Mujahid. 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 ﷺ ,
«لَا يُتْمَ بَعْدَ احْتِلَامٍ، وَلَا 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, `A'ishah and other Companions said that the Prophet said,
«رُفِعَ الْقَلَمُ عَنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ، عَنِ الصَّبِيِّ حَتَّى يَحْتَلِمَ، وَعَنِ النَّائِمِ 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 ءَانَسْتُمْ مِّنْهُمْ رُشْداً فَادْفَعُواْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَلَهُمْ
(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 theOrphan Under Their Care, to Compensate for Their Work
Allah said,
وَلاَ تَأْكُلُوهَآ إِسْرَافاً وَبِدَاراً 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,
إِسْرَافاً وَبِدَاراً
(Wastefully and hastily) for fear they might grow up. Allah also commands,
وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيّاً 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 فَقِيراً فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ
(but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable.) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `A'ishah said, "This Ayah,
وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيّاً فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيراً 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 ﷺ , "I do not have money, but I have an orphan under my care." The Messenger ﷺ said,
«كُلْ مِنْ مَالِ يَتِيمِكَ غَيْرَ مُسْرِفٍ وَلَا مُبَذِّرٍ وَلَا مُتَأَثِّلٍ مَالًا، 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 أَمْوَلَهُمْ
(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 بِاللَّهِ حَسِيباً
(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 ﷺ said,
«يَا أَبَا ذَرَ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ ضَعِيفًا، وَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ مَا أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي، لَا تَأَمَّرَنَّ عَلَى اثْنَيْنِ، وَلَا 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.)
Hadits Terkait
Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Qutaibah bin Sa'ad] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Sufyan] dari [Hisyam bin 'Urwah] dari [bapaknya] dari ['Aisyah radliallahu 'anha] bahwa ayat yang berbunyi: QS An-Nisaa: 128): ("Apabila seorang isteri takut suaminya akan berbuat nusyuz (tidak mau menggaulinya) atau berlaku kasar terhadapnya"), dia ('Aisyah radliallahu 'anha) berkata: "Itu adalah seorang suami yang melihat pada isterinya apa-apa yang tidak menyenangkannya berupa pelanggaran dosa besar atau lainnya lalu dia berniat menceraikan isterinya lalu isterinya itu berkata: "Pertahankanlah aku dan bersumpahlah kepadaku terserah apa saja yang kamu kehendaki". 'Aisyah radliallahu 'anha berkata: "Maka tidak berdosa bila keduanya saling ridho
Telah menceritakan kepada kami ['Abdul 'Aziz bin 'Abdullah Al 'Amiriy Al Uwaisiy] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Ibrahim bin Sa'ad] dari [Shalih] dari [Ibnu Syihab] telah menceritakan kepadaku ['Urwah] bahwa dia bertanya kepada ['Aisyah radliallahu 'anha]. Dan [Al Laits] berkata, telah menceritakan kepadaku [Yunus] dari [Ibnu Syihab] be telah menceritakan kapadaku ['Urwah bin Az Zubair] bahwa dia bertanya kepada ['Aisyah radliallahu 'anha] tentang firman Allah yang artinya: ("Jika kamu khawatir tidak dapat berlaku adil …. seterusnya hingga …empat-empat". (QS. An-Nisaa ayat 3), maka ia menjawab: "Wahai anak saudariku, yang dimaksud ayat itu adalah seorang anak perempuan yatim yang berada pada asuhan walinya, hartanya ada pada walinya, dan walinya ingin memiliki harta itu dan menikahinya namun ia tidak bisa berbuat adil dalam memberikan maharnya, yaitu memberi seperti ia memberikan untuk yang lainnya, maka mereka dilarang untuk menikahinya kecuali jika mereka bisa berbuat adil pada mereka, dan mereka memberikan mahar terbaik kepadanya, mereka diperintahkan untuk menikahi wanita-wanita yang baik untuk mereka selain anak-anak yatim itu". 'Urwah berkata, lalu 'Aisyah berkata, kemudian orang-orang meminta fatwa kepada Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam setelah turunnya ayat ini; wayastaftuunaka finnisaa' (dan mereka meminta fatwa kepadamu tentang para wanita) hingga firmanNya; watarghobuuna antankihuuhunna (dan kalian ingin menikahi mereka) dan yang disebutkan Allah pada firmanNya bahwa; yutla 'alaikum fil kitab (telah disebutkan untuk kalian di dalam Al Quran) ayat pertama yang Allah berfirman didalamnya ada kalimat; wa in khiftum allaa tuqsituu fil yataamaa fankihuu maa thaoba lakum minan nisaa' (jika kalian tidak bisa berbuat adil kepada anak-anak yatim, maka nikahilah wanita-wanita yang baik untuk kalian), 'Aisyah berkata, dan firman Allah pada ayat yang lain; watarghobuuna an tankihuuhunna (dan kalian ingin untuk menikahi mereka) yaitu keinginan kalian untuk menikahi anak perempuan yatim yang kalian asuh ketika ia sedikit hartanya dan kurang menarik wajahya, maka mereka dilarang untuk menikahi mereka karena semata hartanya dan kecantikannya dari anak-anak perempuan yatim kecuali dengan adil disebabkan ketidak tertarikan mereka kepada perempuan yatim itu
Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Qutaibah bin Sa'id] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Laits]. (dalam jalur lain disebutkan) Dan telah menceritakan kepada kami [Muhammad bin Rumh] telah mengabarkan kepada kami [al-Laits] dari [Ibnu Syihab] dari [Ibnu al-Musayyab] bahwa dia mendengar [Abu Hurairah] mengatakan, "Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda: "Demi Dzat yang jiwaku berada di tangan-Nya! Sungguh, kedatangan Isa bin Mariam kepada kalian untuk menjadi hakim secara adil akan segera tiba. Dia akan mematahkan salib, membunuh babi serta menghapuskan jizyah (dari orang kafir). Harta akan melimpah ruah, sehingga tidak ada seorang pun yang ingin menerimanya." Dan telah menceritakannya kepada kami [Abdul A'la bin Hammad] dan [Abu Bakar bin Abu Syaibah] dan [Zuhair bin Harb] mereka berkata; telah menceritakan kepada kami [Sufyan bin Uyainah]. (dalam riwayat lain disebutkan) Dan telah menceritakannya kepadaku tentangnya [Harmalah bin Yahya] telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Ibnu Wahab] dia berkata, telah menceritakan kepadaku [Yunus]. (dalam riwayat lain disebutkan) Dan telah menceritakan kepada kami [Hasan al-Hulwani] dan ['Abd bin Humaid] dari [Ya'qub bin Ibrahim bin Sa'id] telah menceritakan kepada kami [ayahku] dari [Shalih] seluruhnya dari [Az-Zuhri] dengan isnad ini. Dan dalam riwayat Ibnu Uyainah disebutkan, "Sebagai imam yang adil dan hakim yang adil." Sedangkan dalam riwayat Yunus, "Sebagai hakim yang adil, " dan tidak menyebutkan, "imam yang adil." Sedangkan dalam riwayat Shalih, "Hakim yang adil." Sebagaimana dikatakan al-Laits, dan dalam haditsnya terdapat tambahan, "hingga satu sujud lebih baik daripada dunia dan seisinya." Kemudian Abu Hurairah berkata, "Bacalah jika kalian berkehendak: '(Tidak ada seorang pun dari Ahli Kitab, kecuali akan beriman kepadanya (Isa) sebelum kematiannya) ' (Qs. an-Nisaa':)
Telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Muhammad bin Adam] dari [Hafsh bin ghiyats] dari [Al A'la bin Al Musayyab] dari [Amr bin Murrah] dari [Thalhah bin Yazid] dari [Hudzaifah] dan [Al A'masy] dari [Sa'd bin Ubaidah] dari [Al Mustawrid Al Ahnaf] dari [Shilah bin Zufar] dari [Hudzaifah] bahwa Nabi Shallallallahu'alaihi wasallam pernah membaca surat Al Baqarah, Ali 'Imraan, dan An-Nisaa' dalam satu rakaat. Beliau Shallallallahu'alaihi wasallam tidak melewati (membaca) ayat yang berkenaan dengan rahmat kecuali beliau berdoa, dan tidak melewati (membaca) ayat yang berkenaan dengan adzab kecuali beliau memohon perlindungan kepada-Nya
Telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Ishaq bin Ibrahim] dia berkata; telah memberitakan kepada kami [Jarir] dari [Al A'masy] dari [Sa'ad bin 'Ubaidah] dari [Al Mustaurid bin Al Ahnaf] dari [Shilah bin Zufar] dari [Hudzaifah] dia berkata; "Pada suatu malam aku mengerjakan shalat bersama Rasulullah Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam, beliau mulai dengan membaca surat Al Baqarah. Beliau telah membaca seratus ayat dan belum ruku lalu tetap membacanya." Hudzaifah berkata; "Beliau menyelesaikannya pada dua rakaat, lantas berlalu." Hudzaifah berkata lagi; "Beliau menyelesaikannya kemudian ruku' dan terus berlalu hinggga beliau membaca surat An-Nisaa', kemudian membaca surat Ali 'Imraan, lalu ruku' yang lamanya seperti berdiri. Saat ruku' beliau mengucapkan, 'Subhana rabbiyal 'adzimi, subhana rabbiyal 'adzimi, subhana rabbiyal 'adzimi (Maha suci Tuhan-ku yang Maha Agung) '. Lalu beliau mengangkat kepala sambil mengucapkan, 'Sami'allahu liman hamidah rabbana lakal hamdu (Allah Maha mendengar orang yang memuji-Nya, segala puji untuk-Mu) '. Beliau memperpanjang berdirinya kemudian sujud, dan beliau memperlama sujudnya sambil mengucapkan, 'Subhana rabbiyal a'laa, subhana rabbiyal a'laa, subhana rabbiyal a'laa (Maha Suci Tuhanku yang Maha Tinggi) '. Beliau Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam tidak melalui ayat ancaman atau pengagungan Allah Azza wa Jalla kecuali beliau Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam berdzikir kepada-Nya