in digestion, causing no harm. Abu Ja'far recited “wholesome and pleasant” with a doubled yāʾ in both words and without a hamzah; likewise, he recited the forms bariyy (“innocent”), bariyyūn (“innocent ones”), bariyyan (“innocent”), and kahayyah (“like an appearance”). The other reciters pronounced them with a hamzah.

“Do not give the foolish your property, which Allah has made a means of support for you; rather, provide for them from it, clothe them, and speak to them fitting words.” (5)

Allah Most High says: “Do not give the foolish your property, which Allah has made a means of support for you.” They differed concerning these foolish persons. Some said that they are women. Al-Dahhak said, “Women are among the most foolish of the foolish.” Mujahid said: Men were forbidden to give their property to women, since they are foolish—whether they are wives, daughters, or mothers.

Others said that they are children. Al-Zuhri said: This means, “Do not give your foolish child your wealth, which is your means of support after Allah Most High, lest he ruin it.” Some said that they are women and children. Al-Hasan said: They are one’s foolish wife and foolish son. Ibn Abbas said: Do not turn to the wealth that Allah has bestowed upon you and made your livelihood, and give it to your wife or children, so that they become those responsible for supporting you while you look to what is in their hands. Rather, retain your wealth and manage it well, and be the one who spends on them for their provision and maintenance.

Al-Kalbi said: If a man knows that his wife is foolish and wasteful, or that his child is foolish and wasteful, he should not give either of them control over his wealth, lest they ruin it. Sa'id ibn Jubayr and Ikrimah said: It refers to an orphan’s property that is in your care; He says, “Do not give it to him, but spend on him until he reaches maturity.” It is attributed to the guardians in the words “your property” because they are responsible for it and manage it.

The foolish person to whom a guardian may not hand over his property is one upon whom legal interdiction is warranted: namely, one who squanders his wealth or is corrupt in his religion. Thus, Allah—exalted is His mention—says: “Do not give the foolish,” that is, those who are ignorant of where proper conduct lies, “your property, which Allah has made a means of support for you.”

Nafi' and Ibn Amir recited qiyaman, without an alif, while the others recited qiyāman. Its original form is qiwāman, but the wāw was changed to a yāʾ because of the kasrah preceding it. It means the mainstay of an affair and that by which it is sustained. Here, it means the means of your livelihood by which you live. Al-Dahhak said: Through it the pilgrimage, jihad, and deeds of righteousness are maintained, and through it people are ransomed from the Fire.

“And provide for them from it” ⦗78a⦘ means: feed them; “and clothe them”—those whose provision and maintenance you are obliged to provide. He said “from it” in the sense of making a provision for them out of it, for provision from Allah is an unrestricted gift, whereas provision from people is a fixed and limited disbursement (1).

“And speak to them fitting words”: that is, a gracious promise. Ata said: “If I make a profit, I will give you something; and if I gain spoils, I will allot you a share.” It is also said that it means supplication. Ibn Zayd said: If he is not among those whose maintenance you are obliged to provide, then say to him: