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Text and translation
English translation
3700. It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbâs said – concerning the Verse: "Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans"[4] – A man would have an orphan in
his care, and he would keep his food, drink and vessels separate. This caused hardship to the Muslims, so Allāh, the Mighty and Sublime, 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"[1] (in religion), so it is permissible for you to mix with them. (Hasan)
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Footnotes
1
[1] Al-An'âm 7:152.
2
[2] An-Nisâ' 4:10.
3
[3] Al-Baqarah 2:220.
4
[4] An-Nisâ' 4:10.
Commentary
In every society, if there is an orphan or two they reside together with the other members of the household. They eat and drink jointly. This sort of arrangement is advantageous to them also, because if they eat and drink separately, it would entail more expenses. The Arabs also followed the same system. When this Verse was revealed, people were frightened, lest anything belonging to orphans enter our bellies. They, therefore, separated the wealth for the food and drink of the orphans, out of piety and heedfulness of Allāh, though such was not the objective of the Divine law. When this produced several hardships in the society, Allāh, Most High, clarified the situation by revealing another Verse - that if the intention is of well being and sympathy or compassion, there is no harm in keeping them together. The primary objective is the well being of the orphans, whatever way it is achieved
