The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 16
16. Essence of Islam-III ولا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَا امْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ الله لَكُمْ قِيمَاةٌ ارْزُقُوهُمْ فِيهَا وَ اكْسُوهُمْ وَقُولُوا لَهُمْ قَوْلًا مَعْرُوفًا وَابْتَلُوا الْيَتَمَى حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغُوا النِّكَاح فَإن أنسْتُمْ مِّنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَادْفَعُوا اِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَا إِسْرَافًا و بدَارًا أن يَكْبَرُوا وَمَنْ كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَنْ كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلُ بالْمَعْرُوفِ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ اَمْوَالَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُ وَا عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ حَسِيبًاه 7 ولْيَخْشَ الَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُوا مِن خَلْفِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّةً ضِعْفًا خَافُوا عَلَيْهِمْ فَلْيَتَّقُوا اللهَ وَلْيَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًاه إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ الْيَتَفى ظُلُمَّا انَّمَا يَأكُلُونَ في بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًاه 8. Translation: 'If there is a rich person among you who is not mentally fit, e. g. , an orphan, or a minor, and there is a risk that he will waste his property due to imbecility, take charge of the property (as court of wards) and do not hand over the property which can be used for trade and commerce to the feeble-minded. But feed them and clothe them properly as required and speak to them appropriately, that is, teach them things that add to their understanding and skills until they are no longer ignorant and inexperienced. If they are the progeny of a trader, teach them trade, and if their parents belonged to another profession, train them accordingly. In short, train them and keep testing them to make sure that your training is not in vain, until they reach the marriageable age, i. e. , the age of 18. Then if you find them capable of managing their own property, hand it over to them. Do not squander away their property. Nor, for that matter, should you hasten to consume their belongings fearing that they will come asking for it when they grow up. A person who is rich should not take any compensation for 7 Al-Nisa', 4:6-7 [Publisher] 8 Al-Nisa', 4:10-11 [Publisher]