المعنى
What is the context of revelation for this āyah?
الجواب
Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:
- When Allah revealed the verse, "And do not approach the orphan's property except in a way that is best" (17:34), and "Indeed, those who consume the property of orphans unjustly…" (4:10), those who had the wealth of orphans with them separated their food from that of the orphans and their drink from their own. As a result, food would be left over and then either be consumed by the orphan or turn rotten. This became burdensome for them, so they mentioned it to the Prophet ﷺ, and this verse was revealed. [Ibn ʿAbbās, ʿAṭāʾ, Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, Qatādah, Muqātil]
- The Arabs were very strict concerning orphans, to the point that they would not eat with them from the same dish nor use any servants that came with them. They asked the Prophet ﷺ about mixing with orphans, and this verse was revealed. [al-Suddī, al-Ḍaḥḥāk]

