30/11. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3669 — Honest Care and Mixing Affairs With Orphans
What The Guardian Is Entitled To Of An Orphan's Property If He Takes Care Of It
Protecting Orphan Property With Honest Care and Good Intent
Sunan an-Nasai : 3669
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3669
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّلْتِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُدَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ السَّائِبِ - عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ {وَلاَ تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلاَّ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ} وَ{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ الْيَتَامَى ظُلْمًا} قَالَ اجْتَنَبَ النَّاسُ مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ وَطَعَامَهُ فَشَقَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَشَكَوْا ذَلِكَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْيَتَامَى قُلْ إِصْلاَحٌ لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {لأَعْنَتَكُمْ}.
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
When these Verses were revealed - 'And come not near to the orphan's property, except to improve it,' and 'Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans' - the people avoided the property and food of the orphans. That caused hardship to the Muslims and they complained about that to the Prophet.Then Allah revealed: '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 Allah knows him who means mischief (e.g. to swallow their property) from him who means good (e.g. to save their property). And if Allah had wished, He could have put you into difficulties.'
[1] Al-An'âm 7:152.[2] An-Nisâ' 4:10.[3] Al-Baqarah 2:220.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3669In-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 59English translation : Vol. 4, Book 30, Hadith 3699
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3669
This hadith about protecting orphan property describes a hardship that arose when people avoided the food and property of orphans after verses warned against approaching or consuming their wealth unjustly. The Muslims found this difficult and complained to the Prophet. The later revealed words, quoted in the narration, explained that working honestly for the orphans is best and that mixing affairs with them is allowed because they are brothers. The passage also draws a clear line between the person who intends harm and the person who intends good. The message is not permission to misuse orphan wealth. It is guidance that honest care and practical shared living are different from wrongful consumption. The hadith keeps intention, reform, and protection at the center of dealing with an orphan's affairs.
What we learn from this hadith
- Warnings against consuming orphan property caused people to become very cautious.
- Honest work for the benefit of orphans is described as good.
- Mixing affairs is linked with brotherhood and must not hide harmful intent.
- Allah knows who intends harm and who intends good.
