Surah An-Nisa, Ayah 33
Quran 4:33 · The Women · Madani · Para 5 · Page 83
وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِیَ مِمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدٰنِ وَالْاَقْرَبُوْنَ ؕ وَالَّذِیْنَ عَقَدَتْ اَیْمَانُكُمْ فَاٰتُوْهُمْ نَصِیْبَهُمْ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَلٰی كُلِّ شَیْءٍ شَهِیْدًا ۟۠
Transliteration
Walikullin jaAAalna mawaliyamimma taraka alwalidani wal-aqraboonawallatheena AAaqadat aymanukum faatoohumnaseebahum inna Allaha kana AAalakulli shay-in shaheeda
Saheeh International
And for all, We have made heirs to what is left by parents and relatives. And to those whom your oaths have bound [to you] - give them their share. Indeed Allāh is ever, over all things, a Witness.
Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir
For every one of you I have made relations to inherit from what parents and relatives leave in their inheritance; and for those who you have made a promise of allegiance with as an ally and helper, give them their share of the inheritance. I am a witness to everything, and I witness your oaths and promises. The ally inheriting was a ruling at the beginning of Islam, but this ruling was later replaced.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)
And to everyone, We have appointed Mawali of that left by parents and relatives. To those also with whom you have made a pledge (brotherhood), give them their due portion (by wills). Truly, Allah is Ever a Witness over all things (33)
Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Abu Salih, Qatadah, Zayd bin Aslam, As-Suddi, Ad-Dahhak, Muqatil bin Hayyan, and others said that Allah's statement,
وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِيَ
(And to everyone, We have appointed Mawali) means, "Heirs." Ibn 'Abbas was also reported to have said that Mawali refers to relatives. Ibn Jarir commented, "The Arabs call the cousin a Mawla." Ibn Jarir continued, "Allah's statement,
مِمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالْأَقْرَبُونَ
(of that (property) left by parents and relatives.) means, from what he inherited from his parents and family members. Therefore, the meaning of the Ayah becomes: 'To all of you, O people, We appointed relatives (such as children) who will later inherit what you inherited from your own parents and relatives." Allah's statement,
وَالَّذِينَ عَقَدَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ فَآتُوهُمْ نَصِيبَهُمْ
(To those also with whom you have made a pledge (brotherhood), give them their due portion.) means, "Those with whom you have a pledge of brotherhood, give them their share of inheritance, thus fulfilling the ratified pledges that you gave them. Allah has witnessed all of you when you gave these pledges and promises." This practice was followed in the beginning of Islam, but was later on abrogated when Muslims were commanded to fulfill the pledges (brotherhood) they had already given, but to refrain from making any new pledges after that. Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn 'Abbas said,
وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِيَ
(And to everyone, We have appointed Mawali) "meaning, heirs;
وَالَّذِينَ عَقَدَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ
(To those also with whom you have made a pledge (brotherhood)) When the emigrants came to Al-Madinah, the emigrant would inherit from the Ansari, while the latter's relatives would not inherit from him because of the bond of brotherhood which the Prophet ﷺ established between them (the emigrants and the Ansar). When the verse,
وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِيَ
(And to everyone We have appointed Mawali) was revealed, it cancelled (the pledge of brotherhood regarding inheritance)." Then he said, "The verse,
وَالَّذِينَ عَقَدَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ فَآتُوهُمْ نَصِيبَهُمْ
(To those also with whom you have made a pledge (brotherhood), give them their due portion.) remained valid for cases of co-operation and mutual advice, while the matter of inheritance was excluded and it became permissible to assign something in one's will to the person who had the right of inheriting before."