Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (164)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

(6) “Test the orphans until they reach marriageable age. Then, if you perceive sound judgment in them, hand over their property to them. Do not consume it wastefully and in haste before they grow up. Whoever is wealthy should abstain, and whoever is poor may consume from it in a reasonable manner. When you hand over their property to them, have the transfer witnessed. Allah is sufficient as a Reckoner.”

Testing means examining and assessing them. This is done by giving an orphan who is approaching sound judgment and shows the potential for it some of his property, so that he may manage it in a manner appropriate to his circumstances. In this way, it becomes clear whether he possesses sound judgment or lacks it. If ⦗165⦘ he remains unable to manage property properly, his property must not be handed over to him. Rather, he remains lacking in sound judgment, even if he reaches an advanced age.

If his sound judgment and competence in managing his property become evident and he reaches marriageable age, then “hand over their property to them” in full and undiminished. “Do not consume it wastefully”—that is, by exceeding the lawful bounds Allah has permitted you regarding your own property and crossing into the unlawful consumption He has forbidden you of their property.

“And in haste before they grow up”—that is, do not consume their property while they are still young and unable to take it from you or prevent you from consuming it, hastening to do so before they grow up, take it from you, and prevent you from accessing it.

This is conduct found among many guardians who have no fear of Allah and no compassion or love for those under their guardianship. They regard this situation as an opportunity, so they seize it and hasten to take what Allah has forbidden them. Allah Most High therefore specifically prohibited this conduct.

﴿٦﴾ ﴿وَابْتَلُوا الْيَتَامَى حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغُوا النِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ آنَسْتُمْ مِنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَادْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَلا تَأْكُلُوهَا إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا أَنْ يَكْبَرُوا وَمَنْ كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَنْ كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُوا عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ حَسِيبًا﴾ . الابتلاء: هو الاختبار والامتحان، وذلك بأن يدفع لليتيم المقارب للرشد، الممكن رشده، شيئا من ماله، ويتصرف فيه التصرف اللائق بحاله، فيتبين بذلك رشده من سفهه، فإن ⦗١٦٥⦘ استمر غير محسن للتصرف لم يدفع إليه ماله، بل هو باق على سفهه، ولو بلغ عمرا كثيرا. فإن تبين رشده وصلاحه في ماله وبلغ النكاح ﴿فَادْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ﴾ كاملة موفرة. ﴿وَلا تَأْكُلُوهَا إِسْرَافًا﴾ أي: مجاوزة للحد الحلال الذي أباحه الله لكم من أموالكم، إلى الحرام الذي حرمه الله عليكم من أموالهم. ﴿وَبِدَارًا أَنْ يَكْبَرُوا﴾ أي: ولا تأكلوها في حال صغرهم التي لا يمكنهم فيها أخذها منكم، ولا منعكم من أكلها، تبادرون بذلك أن يكبروا، فيأخذوها منكم ويمنعوكم منها. وهذا من الأمور الواقعة من كثير من الأولياء، الذين ليس عندهم خوف من الله، ولا رحمة ومحبة للمولى عليهم، يرون هذه الحال حال فرصة فيغتنمونها ويتعجلون ما حرم الله عليهم، فنهى الله تعالى عن هذه الحالة بخصوصها.