Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Upon the World and the Hereafter. And they ask thee about the fatherless. Say thou: “Improvement for them is best.” And if you associate with them, then are they your brothers. And God knows the worker of corruption from the doer of right. And had God willed, He would have caused distress for you; God is exalted in might and wise.

فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْاٰخِرَةِۜ وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ الْيَتَامٰىۜ قُلْ اِصْلَاحٌ لَهُمْ خَيْرٌۜ وَاِنْ تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَاِخْوَانُكُمْۜ وَاللّٰهُ يَعْلَمُ الْمُفْسِدَ مِنَ الْمُصْلِحِۜ وَلَوْ شَٓاءَ اللّٰهُ لَاَعْنَتَكُمْۜ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَز۪يزٌ حَك۪يمٌ
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
#wordmeaningroot
1Concerning
2l-dun'yāthe worldدنو
3wal-ākhiratiand the Hereafterاخر
4wayasalūnakaThey ask youسال
5ʿaniabout
6l-yatāmāthe orphansيتم
7qulSayقول
8iṣ'lāḥunSetting right (their affairs)صلح
9lahumfor them
10khayrun(is) bestخير
11wa-inAnd if
12tukhāliṭūhumyou associate with themخلط
13fa-ikh'wānukumthen they (are) your brothersاخو
14wal-lahuAnd Allah
15yaʿlamuknowsعلم
16l-muf'sidathe corrupterفسد
17minafrom
18l-muṣ'liḥithe amenderصلح
19walawAnd if
20shāa(had) willedشيا
21l-lahuAllah
22la-aʿnatakumsurely He (could have) put you in difficultiesعنت
23innaIndeed
24l-lahaAllah
25ʿazīzun(is) All-Mightyعزز
26ḥakīmunAll-Wiseحكم
  • Aisha Bewley

    on this world and the Next World. They will ask you about the property of orphans. Say, ‘Managing it in their best interests is best.’ If you mix your property with theirs, they are your brothers. Allah knows a squanderer from a good manager. If Allah had wanted, He could have been hard on you. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.

  • Progressive Muslims

    In this world and the next; and they ask you regarding the orphans, Say: "To fix their situation is best, and if you are to care for them, then they are your brothers". And God knows the corrupt from the good, and had God wished He could have made things difficult. God is Noble, Wise.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Reflect that Allah's Commands can help you here and in the Hereafter. And they ask you about orphans, and those left helpless. Say, "Taking care of the development of their human potential, fulfilling their needs, and rearing them with good training and education is best. If they live with you, they are your brothers and sisters." Allah knows the person who is corrupt from the person who is equitable. Allah has bestowed upon you Guidance without which you would have carried the burdens of Ignorance. He wishes for you ease and not hardship (2:185). The Almighty, Wise Allah uses His Authority in Infinite Wisdom.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Upon the World and the Hereafter. And they ask thee about the fatherless. Say thou: “Improvement for them is best.” And if you associate with them, then are they your brothers. And God knows the worker of corruption from the doer of right. And had God willed, He would have caused distress for you; God is exalted in might and wise.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    In this world and the next; and they ask you regarding the orphans, say: "To fix their situation is best, and if you are to care for them, then they are your brothers." And God knows the corrupt from the good, and if God had wished He could have made things difficult. God is Noble, Wise.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    In this world and the next. They also ask you regarding the orphans, say, "To reform their situation is best, and if you are to care for them, then they are your brothers." God knows the corrupt from the reformer, and had God wished He could have made things difficult. God is Noble, Wise.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    upon this life and the Hereafter. And they ask you about the orphans: say, "Bringing them up as righteous persons is the best you can do for them. If you mix their property with yours, you shall treat them as family members." GOD knows the righteous and the wicked. Had GOD willed, He could have imposed harsher rules upon you. GOD is Almighty, Most Wise.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    On this world and the next. And they ask you about the orphans. Tell them: "Improving their lot is much better; and if you take interest in their affairs, they are your brethren; and God is aware who are corrupt and who are honest; and if He had pleased He could surely have imposed on you hardship, for God is all-powerful and all-wise.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    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 Allah knows the corrupter from the amender. And if Allah had willed, He could have put you in difficulty. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

  • Muhammad Asad

    on this world and on the life to come. And they will ask thee about orphans. Say: "To improve their condition is best." And if you share their life, they are your brethren: for God distinguishes between him who spoils things and him who improves. And had God so willed, He would indeed have imposed on you hardships which you would not have been able to bear: behold, God is almighty, 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.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    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.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    They contemplate their awareness of life here and in the Hereafter. and they call upon you, O Muhammad, to inform them about Islam and its position on orphans. Say to them: "Put an end to abuses and disorder and adopt the right course of reformation, it is better for them, and if you reverently commune and conduct interchanges, they are your brothers in faith. Allah knows well the one who is playfully malicious and the one who faithfully seeks reform. Had Allah willed, He would have afflicted you with difficulties; Allah is Azizun (Almighty) and Hakimun".

  • Bijan Moeinian

    They also ask you how to treat the orphans. Say: "Do sincerely what is best in their interest. If you decide to take them as your partner and mix their properties with your own, bear in mind that you have to treat them like your brothers. Indeed God knows who has a good intention and who is a wicked. If God wanted, He would have imposed the strictest orders in this domain making the life more difficult for you. God is Almighty, 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."

  • 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."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    upon this world and the Hereafter. And they ask you ˹O Prophet˺ concerning orphans. Say, "Improving their condition is best. And if you partner with them, they are bonded with you ˹in faith˺. And Allah knows who intends harm and who intends good. Had Allah willed, He could have made it difficult for you. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise."

  • 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.

  • Abdul Haleem

    on this world and the next. They ask you about 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.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    in this world, and the world to come. They will question thee concerning the orphans. Say: 'To set their affairs aright is good. And if you intermix with them, they are your brothers. God knows well him who works corruption from him who sets aright; and had He willed He would have harassed you. Surely God is All-mighty, All-wise.'

  • E. Henry Palmer

    They will ask thee about orphans: say, 'To do good to them is best. ' But if ye interfere with them - they are your brethren, and God knows the evildoer from the well doer; and if God will He will surely trouble you. Verily, God is mighty, wise.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Upon this life and the Hereafter! They will ask you about orphans: say, "It is best to do what improves their lot. " But if you mingle their affairs with your s - they are your brethren, and Allah knows him who means mischief from him who means well; and if Allah wills He could surely put you into trouble. Verily, Allah is Mighty, Wise.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    On (Literally: in) the present (life) (Literally: the lowly "life", i. e., the life world) and the Hereafter. And they ask you concerning the orphans. Say, "Acting righteously with them is most charitable. (i.e. better) And in case you intermix with them, they are then your brethren; and Allah knows the corruptor from the reformer; (i.e. the doer of righteousness) and if Allah had (so) decided, He would have indeed distressed you; surely Allah is Ever-Mighty, Ever-Wise."

  • George Sale

    of this present world, and of the next. They will also ask thee concerning orphans: Answer, to deal righteously with them is best and if ye intermeddle with the management of what belongs to them, do them no wrong; they are your brethren: God knoweth the corrupt dealer from the righteous; and if God please, he will surely distress you, for God is mighty and wise.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    (About their bearings) on this life and the Hereafter. They ask you (O Prophet) concerning orphans: Say: "The best thing to do is what is for their good; If you mix their affair 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."

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Upon this world and the Hereafter. And they ask you concerning the orphans. Say, `To set (their affairs) right (keeping in view the promotion of their welfare) is (an act of great) virtue, and if you intermix with them they are (after all) your brethren. And Allâh knows the wrongdoers from the right-doers. And if Allâh had so willed, He would certainly have made matters difficult for you. Verily, Allâh is All- Mighty, All-Wise.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    about the world and the Hereafter. And they ask you concerning the orphans. Say, ‘It is better to set right their affairs, and if you intermingle with them, they are of course your brothers: Allah knows the one who causes corruption from the one who brings about reform, and had Allah wished He would have put you to hardship.’ Indeed Allah is all-mighty, all-wise.