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551 Neighbours who are near: that is, in local situation as well as intimate relationships, just as neighbours who are
strangers includes those whom we do not know or who live away from us. (4.36)
552 The Companion by your side may be your intimate friends and associates, just as the way-farer you meet may be a
casual acquaintance on your travels. This last is much wider than the "stranger within your gate." (4.36)
553 What your right hands possess: For the meaning of the phrase see n. 537 above. (4.36)
554 Real deeds of service and kindness proceed, not from showing off or from a superior sort of condescension (cf.
"White Man's Burden"), but from a frank recognition of our own humility and the real claims, before Allah, of all our
fellow-creatures. For in our mutual needs we are equal before Allah, or perhaps the best of us (as the world sees us)
may be worse than the worst of us (from the same point of view). (4.36)
4:127 - They ask thy instruction concerning the women. Say: Allah doth instruct you about them:
and (remember) what hath been rehearsed unto you in the Book concerning the orphans of
women to whom ye give not the portions prescribed and yet whom ye desire to marry as also
concerning the children who are weak and oppressed: that ye stand firm for justice to orphans.
There is not a good deed which ye do but Allah is well-acquainted therewith. 636637
6:152 - And come not nigh to the orphan's property except to improve it until he attain the age of full
strength; give measure and weight with (full) justice; no burden do We place on any soul but
that which it can bear; whenever ye speak speak justly even if a near relative is concerned;
and fulfil the Covenant of Allah: thus doth He command you that ye may remember. 978
978 Cf. v. 1, and n. 682. (6.152)
17:34 - Come not nigh to the orphan's property except to improve it until he attains the age of full
strength; and fulfil (every) engagement for (every) engagement will be enquired into (on the
Day of Reckoning). 2217221822192220
2217 Cf. vi. 152, and other passages relating to orphans, e.g., ii. 220. If an orphan's property is touched at all, it should be
to improve it, or to give him something better than he had before,-never to take a personal advantage for the benefit of
the guardian. A bargain that may be quite fair as between two independent persons would be, under this verse, unfair
as between a guardian and his orphan ward until the latter attains the full age of understanding. (17.34)
2218 Ashuddahu means the age when the orphan reaches his full maturity of strength and understanding, say between the
ages of 18 and 30. The age of legal maturity may be 18 (as for certain purposes in India) or 21 (as in England). For
certain purposes in Muslim law it may be less than 18. In the orphan's interest a much stricter standard is required in
his case. (17.34)
2219 The definite article al has here a generic meaning, and is best translated by "every". (17.34)
2220 From the context the engagements referred to would relate to beneficial contracts connected with the orphan's
property or promises or undertakings given by the guardian or implied in the terms of his appointment. But the words
are general and may be interpreted in the general sense. Note that this sentence does not occur in the similar
passage in vi. 152, where there was a discussion of social laws: it is appropriate here, where the discussion is about
the guardian's personal and individual responsibility. (17.34)
76:8 - And they feed for the love of Allah the indigent the orphan and the captive 5839
5839 The captive: when taken literally, it refers to the old state of things when captives of war had to earn their own food, or
their own redemption; even ordinary prisoners in jail for criminal offences often starved unless food was provided for
them by private friends or from their own earnings. (76.8)
89:17 - Nay nay! but ye honor not the orphans! 6121
6121 Even at our own valuation, if we are favoured with superfluities, do we think of the fatherless children, or the stuggling
poor? On the contrary, too many men are but ready to embezzle the helpless orphan's inheritance, and to waste their
own substance in worthless riot instead of supplying the people's real needs. (89.17)
90:14 - Or the giving of food in a day of privation 6141
6141 Feed those who need it, both literally and figuratively; but do so especially when there is privation or famine. (90.14)
90:15- To the orphan with claims of relationship 6142
6142 All orphans should be fed and helped. But ordinary orphans will come under the indigent in verse 16 below. The
orphans related to us have a special claim on us. They should be near and dear to us, and if charity begins at home,
they have the first claim on us. (90.15)
93:9 - Therefore treat not the orphan with harshness 6185
6185 Verses 9-11 carry on, to a step further, the triple argument of verses 6-8, as explained in the preceding notes. The
Prophet treated all orphans with tender affection and respect, setting an example to his contemporaries, who
frequently took advantage of the helpless position of orphans, and in any case looked upon them as subordinate
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