Permission to Marry the Orphan Girls

Lesson # 561 From Holy Qur’aan

Permission to Marry the Orphan Girls

Surah Nisaaa’ (Women) – Chapter – 4

Verse –127 of 176, Section – 19/24 (Part – 5)

They consult thee  concerning women. Say: Allah giveth you decree concerning them, and the Scripture which hath been recited unto you (giveth decree), concerning female orphans and those unto whom ye give not that which is ordained for them though ye desire to marry them, and (concerning) the weak among children, and that ye should deal justly with orphans. And whatever good ye do, lo! Allah is ever Aware of it.

Wa  yas-taf-tuunaka  fin-Nisaaa’.  QuLIllaahu  yuftiikum  fii-hinna, wa  maa  yutlaa  ‘alay-kum  fil-Kitaabi  fii  yataa-man-nisaa- ‘illaatii  laa  tu’-tuuna  maa  kutiba  lahunna  wa  targabuuna  ‘an-tankihuu-hunna  wal-mustaz- ‘afiina  minal-wildaani  ,  wa   ‘an-taquu-muu  lil-yataamaa  bil-qist.  Wa  maa  taf-‘aluu  min-  khayrin-  fa- ‘innAllaaha  kaana  bihii  ‘Aliimaa.

                                                         

    

Lesson

Yas-taf-tuuna – the origin of this word is ‘istaftaaa’, which has been made from fatwaa. Fatwaa means ‘permission, leave’. ‘Istaftaaa’  means to request for leave, to ask for permission’. Yaftuuna is also from the same origin, its source is ‘iftaaa’. ‘Iftaaa’ means ‘to give permission and leave’.

‘Al-mustaz- ‘afiina – (the weak, the feeble), it is plural of mustaz- ‘af, which has been derived from zu’f that means ‘weakness, debility’.

There was the command about orphans in the beginning of this Surah (Chapter), that was, “Bear in mind and care especially their rights”. Even that, those patrons of the orphan girls should not marry them, who may violate their rights. In view of this verse, some relatives of the orphan girls gave up to marry them. When they observed that those other people, with whom (who were not relatives) the orphan girls were got married, they gave them a lot of pain. Now the guardians felt, “If they had not been married with non-relatives, they would not have been put in trouble”. The people asked some questions also from the Messenger of Allaah Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) about this matter.

It has been described in this verse, “These people want permission to marry the orphan girls with their near relatives”. Tell them, “You are permitted for it. You were prevented earlier from this kind of marriage in the form that perhaps you could not perform their rights, your intention might be either to take possession of their wealth and property or you marry them for any other advantage of your own or they are given any loss in any matter. In this condition, to such orphan girl or helpless woman, truly you should not wed, for whom you are not answerable to anyone except yourself. Allaah Almighty has commanded again and again to do justice with the weak women and feeble children. He has adjudged also for the women and children as heirs and urged that the justice should be done fully with the orphans. It is the stupidity to act upon own wisdom before the orders of Allaah Almighty. You have goodness in the commands, given by Him from beginning to end. Bow your heads in front of His Orders. You do not have too much knowledge that you may think about your betterment. Those deeds will not be wasted by Allaah Almighty, which will be done by you in His obedience.  

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English byMarmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’an published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English  by Muhammad Sharif).