Surah 17:34
Show Full Scripture Context (17:34-35) — 2 Verses
وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ مَالَ ٱلۡيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِي هِيَ أَحۡسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبۡلُغَ أَشُدَّهُۥۚ وَأَوۡفُواْ بِٱلۡعَهۡدِۖ إِنَّ ٱلۡعَهۡدَ كَانَ مَسۡـُٔولٗا
Do not go near the property of the orphan, except to improve it, until he reaches his maturity. Fulfill the covenant. Surely you are responsible for a covenant.
وَأَوۡفُواْ ٱلۡكَيۡلَ إِذَا كِلۡتُمۡ وَزِنُواْ بِٱلۡقِسۡطَاسِ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمِۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيۡرٞ وَأَحۡسَنُ تَأۡوِيلٗا
Fill up the measure when you measure, and weigh with the straight balance. That is better and fairer in interpretation.
34. And come not near to the orphan's property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength. And fulfill (every) covenant. Verily, the covenant will be questioned about.
35. And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with a balance that is straight. That is good (advantageous) and better in the end.
The Command to handle the Orphan's Wealth properly and to be Honest in Weights and Measures
And come not near to the orphan's property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength.
meaning, do not dispose of the orphan's wealth except in a proper manner.
In Sahih Muslim it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah said to Abu Dharr:
"O Abu Dharr, I see that you are weak (in administering), and I like for you that which I like for myself. Do not let yourself be appointed as Amir over two people, and do not let yourself be appointed as guardian of an orphan's property."
And fulfill (every) covenant. meaning, everything that you promise people, and the covenants that you agree to, because the person who makes a covenant or a promise will be asked about it:
Verily, the covenant will be questioned about.
And give full measure when you measure. meaning, do not try to make it weigh less nor wrong people with their belongings.
and weigh with a balance meaning scales,
that is straight. meaning that which is not distorted nor that which will cause confusion.
that is good for you, in your daily life and in your Hereafter. So Allah says:
and better in the end. meaning, with regard to your ultimate end in the Hereafter.
That is good (advantageous) and better in the end.
Sa'id narrated that Qatadah said that this means "Better in reward and a better end." Ibn 'Abbas used to say: "O people, you are entrusted with two things for which the people who came before you were destroyed - these weights and measures."
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 5, Page 619)