Surah Al-Baqara 2:220 — translation and meaning

البقرة · Verse 220 / 286 · Page 35

ۚ ۚ ۚ ۗ ۖ ۖ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْيَتَامَى قُلْ إِصْلَاحٌ لَّهُمْ خَيْرٌ وَإِن تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ الْمُفْسِدَ مِنَ الْمُصْلِحِ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَأَعْنَتَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

Word by Word

ۚ
ۚ
ۚ
ۗ
ۖ
ۖ
فِي
fi
Concerning
الدُّنْيَا
al-dun'ya
the world
وَالْآخِرَةِ
wal-akhirati
and the Hereafter
وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ
wayasalunaka
They ask you
عَنِ
ani
about
الْيَتَامَى
al-yatama
the orphans
قُلْ
qul
Say
إِصْلَاحٌ
is'lahun
Setting right (their affairs)
لَّهُمْ
lahum
for them
خَيْرٌ
khayrun
(is) best
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
تُخَالِطُوهُمْ
tukhalituhum
you associate with them
فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ
fa-ikh'wanukum
then they (are) your brothers
وَاللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
يَعْلَمُ
ya'lamu
knows
الْمُفْسِدَ
al-muf'sida
the corrupter
مِنَ
mina
from
الْمُصْلِحِ
al-mus'lihi
the amender
وَلَوْ
walaw
And if
شَاءَ
shaa
(had) willed
اللَّهُ
al-lahu
Allah
لَأَعْنَتَكُمْ
la-a'natakum
surely He (could have) put you in difficulties
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
اللَّهَ
al-laha
Allah
عَزِيزٌ
azizun
(is) All-Mighty
حَكِيمٌ
hakimun
All-Wise

Transliteration

Fid dunyaa wal aakhirah; wa yas'aloonaka 'anil yataamaa qul islaahullahum khayr, wa in tukhaalitoohum fa ikhwaanukum; wallaahu ya'lamul mufsida minalmuslih; wa law shaaa'al laahu la-a'natakum; innal laaha 'Azeezun Hakeem

Translation

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.

Verse interpretation (Tafsir)

Allah has established these rules so that you may think about what benefits you in this world and the Afterlife. Your Companions ask you, O Prophet, about the guardianship of orphans and how they should deal with them: whether they can mix their wealth with that of the orphans for expenses, food and accommodation? Say in reply to them: If you are kind to them by arranging their affairs without taking anything in return and without touching their wealth, it is better in the sight of Allah and carries greater reward. It is also better because you will receive your full wealth. However, there is no harm if you mix their wealth with yours for living expenses, as they are your brothers in faith and it is normal for brothers to help and look after the affairs of one another. Allah knows the guardian who, by mixing the wealth of orphans with his, means harm and the one who means well. If He wished to make it difficult for you with respect to orphans, He would have done so. Instead, He has made it easy for you to deal with them as the sacred law is based on ease. Allah is Mighty and nothing can overpower Him. He is Wise in His planning and legislation.

Source: Al-Mukhtasar Tafsir — Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies.

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