Allah the Exalted says: “O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from a single soul”—that is, Adam, peace be upon him—“and created from it its mate”—that is, Eve—“and from the two spread forth”—meaning, dispersed and brought forth—“countless men and women. And fear Allah, in whose name you appeal to one another.” That is, you make appeals to one another by Him.

The people of Kufa recited it with an ungeminated sin, omitting one of the two ta’s, as in His saying: “Do not cooperate.” As for “and honour the ties of kinship,” the majority recited it in the accusative case, meaning: fear Allah lest you sever the ties of kinship. Hamzah recited it in the genitive case, meaning: by Him and by the ties of kinship, as one says, “I ask you by Allah and by the ties of kinship.” The first recitation is more eloquent, since the Arabs hardly ever coordinate an explicit noun with an implicit pronoun unless they repeat the governing preposition, saying, for example, “I passed by him and by Zayd.” Though this is permissible, it is uncommon. “Surely Allah is ever watchful over you,” meaning, guarding over you.

Allah the Exalted says: “Give the orphans their property.” Muqatil and al-Kalbi said: This was revealed concerning a man from Ghatfan who was holding considerable wealth belonging to his orphaned nephew. When the orphan reached maturity, he asked for his wealth, but his uncle withheld it from him. They brought their dispute before the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, and this verse was revealed. When the uncle heard it, he said, “We obey Allah and obey the Messenger. We seek refuge in Allah from the grave sin.” He then handed over the orphan’s property. The Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, said: “Whoever is protected from the avarice of his own soul and obeys his Lord in this manner, Allah will admit him into His abode”—meaning, His Paradise. When the youth took possession of his wealth, he spent it in the way of Allah. The Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, said: “The reward has been assured, while the sin remains.” They asked, “How does the sin remain?” He replied: “The reward has been assured for the boy, while the sin remains upon his father.” (1)

His saying, “Give,” is addressed to guardians and trustees. Orphans is the plural of orphan. An orphan is a minor who has neither a father nor a grandfather. Property is only handed over to them after they reach maturity; they are called orphans here in consideration of the fact that they had been orphans.