65/4.24. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4600 — Orphan Rights and Fair Guardianship
Allah's Statement: "They ask your legal instruction concerning women, say: Allah instructs you about them, and about what is recited unto you in the Book concerning orphan girls..." (V.4:127)
Hadith About Orphan Rights and Fair Guardianship
Sahih Bukhari : 4600
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4600
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ {وَيَسْتَفْتُونَكَ فِي النِّسَاءِ قُلِ اللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِيهِنَّ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {وَتَرْغَبُونَ أَنْ تَنْكِحُوهُنَّ}. قَالَتْ هُوَ الرَّجُلُ تَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ الْيَتِيمَةُ، هُوَ وَلِيُّهَا وَوَارِثُهَا، فَأَشْرَكَتْهُ فِي مَالِهِ حَتَّى فِي الْعِذْقِ، فَيَرْغَبُ أَنْ يَنْكِحَهَا، وَيَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُزَوِّجَهَا رَجُلاً، فَيَشْرَكُهُ فِي مَالِهِ بِمَا شَرِكَتْهُ فَيَعْضُلَهَا فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ.
A'isha Narrated from:
Regarding the Verse:--"They ask your instruction concerning the women. Say: Allah instructs you about them and yet whom you desire to marry." (4.127)(has been revealed regarding the case of) a man who has an orphan girl, and he is her guardian and her heir. The girl shares with him all his property, even a date-palm (garden), but he dislikes to marry her and dislikes to give her in marriage to somebody else who would share with him the property she is sharing with him, and for this reason that guardian prevents that orphan girl from marrying. So, this Verse was revealed: (And Allah's statement:)"If a woman fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part." (4.128)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4600In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 122USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 124
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4600
This Hadith about orphan rights explains a serious abuse of guardianship. Aisha describes a man who has an orphan girl under his care. He is also her heir, and she shares property with him, even a date-palm garden. The problem is not only that he dislikes marrying her. He also dislikes letting another man marry her, because that husband would share in the property she already shares with her guardian. So he blocks her marriage for his own interest. The core lesson is clear: Islamic guardianship is not a tool for control, greed, or pressure. A guardian should not use an orphan girl’s wealth or weak position to stop her from marriage. The Hadith points to fairness, protection, and honest treatment of women and orphans.
What we learn from this hadith
- Guardianship must protect an orphan’s rights, not serve the guardian’s personal gain.
- Blocking an orphan girl’s marriage for property interest is presented as wrongful conduct.
- Shared wealth should not become a reason to control another person’s future.
- The Hadith connects Qur’anic guidance with fair treatment of women under care.
