Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And test the fatherless when they have reached marriage: if you find them to be of sound judgment, deliver to them their property; and consume it not wastefully and hastily before they be grown. And he that is free from need, let him abstain; and he that is poor, let him take according to what is fitting. And when you deliver to them their property, take witnesses over them. And sufficient is God as reckoner.

وَابْتَلُوا الْيَتَامٰى حَتّٰٓى اِذَا بَلَغُوا النِّكَاحَۚ فَاِنْ اٰنَسْتُمْ مِنْهُمْ رُشْداً فَادْفَعُٓوا اِلَيْهِمْ اَمْوَالَهُمْۚ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَٓا اِسْرَافاً وَبِدَاراً اَنْ يَكْـبَرُواۜ وَمَنْ كَانَ غَنِياًّ فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْۚ وَمَنْ كَانَ فَق۪يراً فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِۜ فَاِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ اِلَيْهِمْ اَمْوَالَهُمْ فَاَشْهِدُوا عَلَيْهِمْۜ وَكَفٰى بِاللّٰهِ حَس۪يباً
Wabtaloo alyatama hattaitha balaghoo annikaha fa-in anastumminhum rushdan fadfaAAoo ilayhim amwalahum walata/kulooha israfan wabidaran an yakbaroowaman kana ghaniyyan falyastaAAfif waman kanafaqeeran falya/kul bilmaAAroofi fa-itha dafaAAtumilayhim amwalahum faashhidoo AAalayhim wakafa billahihaseeba
#wordmeaningroot
1wa-ib'talūAnd testبلو
2l-yatāmāthe orphansيتم
3ḥattāuntil
4idhā[when]
5balaghūthey reach[ed]بلغ
6l-nikāḥa(the age of) marriageنكح
7fa-inthen if
8ānastumyou perceiveانس
9min'humin them
10rush'dansound judgementرشد
11fa-id'faʿūthen deliverدفع
12ilayhimto them
13amwālahumtheir wealthمول
14walāAnd (do) not
15takulūhāeat itاكل
16is'rāfanextravagantlyسرف
17wabidāranand hastilyبدر
18an(fearing) that
19yakbarūthey will grow upكبر
20wamanAnd whoever
21kānaisكون
22ghaniyyanrichغني
23falyastaʿfifthen he should refrainعفف
24wamanand whoever
25kānaisكون
26faqīranpoorفقر
27falyakulthen let him eat (of it)اكل
28bil-maʿrūfiin a fair mannerعرف
29fa-idhāThen when
30dafaʿtumyou deliverدفع
31ilayhimto them
32amwālahumtheir wealthمول
33fa-ashhidūthen take witnessesشهد
34ʿalayhimon them
35wakafāAnd is sufficientكفي
36bil-lahiAllah
37ḥasīban(as) a Reckonerحسب
  • Aisha Bewley

    Keep a close check on orphans until they reach a marriageable age, then if you perceive that they have sound judgement hand over their property to them. Do not consume it extravagantly and precipitately before they come of age. Those who are wealthy should abstain from it altogether. Those who are poor should use it sensibly and correctly. When you hand over their property to them ensure that there are witnesses on their behalf. Allah suffices as a Reckoner.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And test the orphans until they reach the age of marriage, then if you determine in them sound judgment, then give them their wealth, and do not deliberately consume it wastefully or quickly before they grow up. And whoever is rich, then let him not claim anything, and if he is poor then let him consume only in goodness. If you give to them their wealth, then make a witness for them, and God is enough for Reckoning.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Train and educate the orphans well. When they reach the age of marriage, and attain sound judgment, release their property to them. The marriageable age shall mean attainment of physical and mental maturity when one can legally make a solemn contract (4:21). Do not consume their property or let it be wasted. Nor hastily spend it fearing that they will come of age. If the guardian is well off, let him claim no compensation for the management of the property. But, if he is poor he may have a just and reasonable amount. When you are releasing the property to the orphans be sure to take witnesses. Remember that Allah is Competent in taking account.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And test the fatherless when they have reached marriage: if you find them to be of sound judgment, deliver to them their property; and consume it not wastefully and hastily before they be grown. And he that is free from need, let him abstain; and he that is poor, let him take according to what is fitting. And when you deliver to them their property, take witnesses over them. And sufficient is God as reckoner.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And test the orphans when they reach puberty, then, if you have determined from them comprehension, then give them their money, and do not deliberately consume it wastefully or quickly before they grow up. And whoever is rich, then let him not claim anything, and if he is poor then let him consume in kindness. If you give to them their money, then make a witness for them, and God is enough for Reckoning.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Test the orphans until they reach the age of marriage, then if you determine in them sound judgment, then give them their wealth, and do not deliberately consume it wastefully or quickly before they grow up. Whoever is rich, then let him not claim anything, and if he is poor then let him consume only properly. If you give to them their wealth, then make a witness for them, and God is enough for Reckoning.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    You shall test the orphans when they reach puberty. As soon as you find them mature enough, give them their property. Do not consume it extravagantly in a hurry, before they grow up. The rich guardian shall not charge any wage, but the poor guardian may charge equitably. When you give them their properties, you shall have witnesses. GOD suffices as Reckoner.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    And test (and try) the orphans until they are of marriageable age. If you find they have acquired sound judgement, then hand over their property to them; but devour not their wealth, nor use it up hastily out of fear that soon they will grow up (and demand it). And (the guardian) who is rich should abstain from spending much (of their wealth); and he who is poor should use only as much as is fair. And when you give back their possessions have this witnessed, (and remember) that God is sufficient to take all account.

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

    And test the orphans until they reach marriageable age. Then if you perceive in them sound judgement, release their property to them. And do not consume it excessively and quickly, that they will grow up. And whoever, , is self-sufficient should refrain ; and whoever is poor - let him take according to what is acceptable. Then when you release their property to them, bring witnesses upon them. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant.

  • Muhammad Asad

    And test the orphans until they reach a marriage­able age; then, if you find them to be mature of mind, hand over to them their possessions; and do not consume them by wasteful spending, and in haste, ere they grow up. And let him who is rich abstain entirely ; and let him who is poor partake thereof in a fair manner. And when you hand over to them their possessions, let there be witnesses on their behalf - although none can take count as God does.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Prove orphans till they reach the marriageable age; then, if ye find them of sound judgment, deliver over unto them their fortune; and devour it not by squandering and in haste lest they should grow up Whoso (of the guardians) is rich, let him abstain generously (from taking of the property of orphans); and whoso is poor let him take thereof in reason (for his guardianship). And when ye deliver up their fortune unto orphans, have (the transaction) witnessed in their presence. Allah sufficeth as a Reckoner.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Test the orphans until they reach the age of marriage,* and then if you find them mature of mind hand over to them their property,* and do not eat it up by either spending extravagantly or in haste, fearing that they would grow up (and claim it). If the guardian of the orphan is rich let him abstain entirely (from his ward's property); and if he is poor, let him partake of it in a fair measure.* When you hand over their property to them let there be witnesses on their behalf. Allah is sufficient to take account (of your deeds).

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    And test the orphans now and then until they reach maturity and be fit -for marriage. If you feel they are characterized by good sense and prudence, then hand over to them their property and you must not abuse it nor act with expedition of time and events to absorb it or devour it before they come of age. And he who is entrusted with the property must not impose a liability or charge a fee for the execution of his functions, but be virtuous should he be wealthy and opulent. But if he is poor, then he may remunerate himself with equity. And when you hand over the, property to them -the orphans- you must have others witness the transfer, and sufficient is Allah to be Hasibun (a Witness Who calls to account).

  • Bijan Moeinian

    When the orphans (to whom you are appointed as a guardian) reach puberty, see if they have a sound sense of judgment. If they pass your test, give them back their inheritance. If you have to use the orphans’ properties for their maintenance, do not be extravagant. The rich guardians (in order to please God) should not charge any wage for their upbringing; the poor guardians, however, may charge a just wage. When it is time to hand over their inheritance, take God as a witness for the accomplishment of your duty; God is, indeed, the best witness.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And try orphans (as regards their intelligence) until they reach the age of marriage; if then you find sound judgement in them, release their property to them, but consume it not wastefully and hastily fearing that they should grow up, and whoever (amongst guardians) is rich, he should take no wages, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable (according to his labour). And when you release their property to them, take witness in their presence; and Allâh is All-Sufficient in taking account.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Make trial of orphans until they reach the age of marriage; if then ye find sound judgment in them, release their property to them; but consume it not wastefully, nor in haste against their growing up. If the guardian is well-off, Let him claim no remuneration, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. When ye release their property to them, take witnesses in their presence: But all-sufficient is Allah in taking account.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Test ˹the competence of˺ the orphans until they reach a marriageable age. Then if you feel they are capable of sound judgment, return their wealth to them. And do not consume it wastefully and hastily before they grow up ˹to demand it˺. If the guardian is well-off, they should not take compensation; but if the guardian is poor, let them take a reasonable provision. When you give orphans back their property, call in witnesses. And sufficient is Allah as a ˹vigilant˺ Reckoner.

  • Taqi Usmani

    Test the orphans until they reach the marriageable age. Then, if you perceive in them proper understanding, hand their property over to them, and do not consume it extravagantly and hastily, lest they should grow up. Whoever is rich should abstain (from using it for himself), and whoever is poor may have from it (to the extent of his necessary need) with fairness. So, when you hand their property over to them, make witnesses upon them. Allah is sufficient for reckoning

  • Abdul Haleem

    Test orphans until they reach marriageable age; then, if you find they have sound judgement, hand over their property to them. Do not consume it hastily before they come of age: if the guardian is well off he should abstain from the orphan’s property, and if he is poor he should use only what is fair. When you give them their property, call witnesses in; but God takes full account of everything you do.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Test well the orphans, until they reach the age of marrying; then, if you perceive in them right judgment, deliver to them their property; consume it not wastefully and hastily ere they are grown. If any man is rich, let him be abstinent; if poor, let him consume in reason. And when you deliver to them their property, take witnesses over them; God suffices for a reckoner.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Prove orphans until they reach a marriageable age, and if ye perceive in them right management, then hand over to them their property, and do not devour it extravagantly in anticipation of their growing up. And he who is rich, let him abstain; but he who is poor, let him devour in reason, and when ye hand over to them their property, then take witnesses against them; but God sufficeth for taking account.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Prove orphans until they reach a marriageable age, then, if you perceive in them good judgment, hand over to them their property, and do not consume it wastefully and in haste lest they grow up. And the guardian who is rich, let him abstain from remuneration; but he who is poor, let him have what is just and reasonable. And when you deliver to the orphans their property, then have witnesses in their presence. Allah sufficient in taking account.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And try the orphans until they reach (the) marriageable age. So, in case you perceive in them right-mindedness then pay over to them their riches, and do not eat them up extravagantly and in anticipation of their (attaining) majority. And whoever is rich, then let him keep abstaining, (i.e. let him abstain generously) and whoever is poor, then let him eat (of it) with beneficence. So, when you pay over to them their riches, then take witnesses over them; and Allah suffices as Ever-Reckoner.

  • George Sale

    And examine the orphans until they attain the age of marriage: But if ye perceive they are able to manage their affairs well, deliver their substance unto them; and waste it not extravagantly, or hastily, because they grow up. Let him who is rich abstain entirely from the orphans estates; and let him who is poor take thereof according to what shall be reasonable. And when ye deliver their substance unto them, call witnesses thereof in their presence: God taketh sufficient account of your actions.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Test (make a trial of) the orphans until they reach the age of marriage; If then you find them of sound judgment, release their property to them; But do not consume it wastefully nor in haste, before their growing up. If the guardian is well-off, let him not receive payment, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. And when you release their property to them, take witnesses in their presence: And Allah is All Sufficient in taking account (Hasib).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And keep on testing the orphans until they attain the (age of) marriage, then if you perceive in them sound judgment deliver to them their property and do not consume it extravagantly and hastily as they grow up (fearing lest they should claim it when they attain majority). And let him (- the guardian) who can afford to do without, let him avoid remuneration, but he who is needy may charge reasonable remuneration with equity. And when you hand over to them (- the orphans) their property let there be some witnesses to attest. And Allâh is enough as a Reckoner (and call you to account).

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Test the orphans when they reach the age of marriage. Then if you discern in them maturity, deliver to them their property. And do not consume it lavishly and hastily lest they should grow up. As for him who is well-off, let him be abstemious, and as for him who is poor, let him eat in an honourable manner. And when you deliver to them their property, take witnesses over them, and Allah suffices as reckoner.