The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 504
CH. 6 AL-AN'ĀM PT. 8 وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ And approach not the. 153 property of the orphan, except أَحْسَنُ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَأَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ in a way which is best, till he وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا attains his maturity. And give b full measure and weight with VIKŐEKݳ وُسْعَهَا وَاِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا equity. We task not any soul except according to its capacity. قُرْبى ۚ وَبِعَهْدِ اللهِ اَوْفُوا ذَلِكُمْ وَقُكُمْ And when you speak, observe بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ justice, even if a relation be concerned, and dfulfil the covenant of Allah. That is what He enjoins upon you, that you may remember. '892 4:11; 17:35. 17:36; 26:182-183; 55:10. 2:287; 7:43. d5:2; 16:92; 17:35. man to take the law in his own hands. 892. Commentary: Next to the injunction to protect the lives of our brethren (see preceding verse) comes the injunction to protect their property. Of those the Quran takes first those who cannot take care of their own property, viz. orphans. The verse says: And approach not the property of the orphan, except in a way which is best. In these words we are bidden to take due care of the property of those whose parents are dead and who are too young to take care of their property. We are to act as trustees for their property and we are strongly forbidden to misappropriate it. The injunction not to "approach" the property, however, does not mean that we should not even make such use of their property as may be to the advantage of the orphans themselves, e. g. investing it in some profitable business which may bring gain to our 944 wards. The Quran allows such profitable investment by saying, except in a way which is best. Again by using the words, till he attains his maturity, the Quran reminds us that we are to be the custodians of the property of orphans not for a month or a year, but until the time when they are old enough to take charge of it and look after their own affairs. Next to orphans come those of our brethren who, though able to take care of their property, may sometimes become the dupes of others. So the next injunction is of general application and is to the effect: And give full measure and weight with equity. In these words we are bidden not to cheat or defraud others of their property in any way, even if the other party is not intelligent or watchful enough to look after his or her interests. After the injunctions pertaining to the protecting of property, comes the