Quran 4:33 — Surah An-Nisaa Ayah 33 | Arabic, Translation & Tafsir

وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْا۟ مَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ بَعْ...

4:33

An-Nisaa

ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَ...

وَلِكُلٍّۢ جَعَلْنَا مَوَٰلِىَ مِمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلْوَٰلِدَانِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبُونَ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ عَقَدَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُمْ فَـَٔاتُوهُمْ نَصِيبَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ شَهِيدًا

Wa likullin ja'alnaa ma waaliya mimmaa tarakal waalidaani wal aqraboon; wallazeena 'aqadat aimaanukum fa aatoohum naseebahum; innal laaha kaana 'alaa kulli shai'in Shaheedaa

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 Allah is ever, over all things, a Witness.

Related Tafsir

Ibn Kathir

وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِىَ

(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,

مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَلِدَنِ وَالاٌّقْرَبُونَ

(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 أَيْمَـنُكُمْ فَـَاتُوهُمْ 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 مَوَالِىَ

(And to everyone, We have appointed Mawali) "meaning, heirs;

وَالَّذِينَ عَقَدَتْ أَيْمَـنُكُمْ

(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 established between them (the emigrants and the Ansar). When the verse,

وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِىَ

(And to everyone We have appointed Mawali) was revealed, it cancelled (the pledge of brotherhood regarding inheritance)." Then he said, "The verse,

وَالَّذِينَ عَقَدَتْ أَيْمَـنُكُمْ فَـَاتُوهُمْ 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."

View Full Tafsir: وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِىَAyahs 33–33

"To those also, to whom your right hand was pledged, give your portion." When the Emigrants came to Medina. they inherited from the Helpers without any blood-relationship with them for the brotherhood which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) established between them. When the following verse was revealed: "To (benefit) everyone we have appointed shares and heirs to property left by parent and relatives." it abrogated the verse: "To those also, to whom your right hand was pledged, give their due portion." This alliance was made for help, well wishing and cooperation. Now a legacy can be made for him. (The right to)inheritance was abolished.

Sunan Ibn Majah #2474It was narrated from Miqdam Abu Karimah, a man from Sham who was one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever leaves behind wealth, it is for his heirs. Whoever leaves behind poor dependents and a debt, it is for us to take care of – or he said: ‘It is for Allah and His Messenger (to take care of) – I am the heir of the one who has no heir, I will pay the blood money on his behalf and inherit from him. And the maternal uncle is the heir of the one who has no heir, he pays blood money on his behalf and inherits from him.”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #2161Al-Harith narrated that 'Ali said:

"You recite this ayah: After payment of legacies he(or she) may have bequeathed or debts, without causing harm. And indeed the Messenger of Allah(S.A.W) judged the debt before the will and that the children (sons and daughters)from the same mother and father inherit,not the sons from various mothers. The man inherits from his brother from his father, and his mother, not his brother from his father. Another chain reports a similar narration.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #2165Ibn 'Abbas narrated that the Messenger of Allah(S.A.W) said:

"Give the shares of inheritance to those who are entitled to them. As for what remains, then it is for the closet male relative." Another chain reports similar narration.

Sahih al-Bukhari #4374Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

Regarding the Verse: "To everyone, We have appointed heirs." (4.33) 'Mawali' means heirs. And regarding:-- "And those to whom your right hands have pledged." When the Emigrants came to Medina, an Emigrant used to be the heir of an Ansari with the exclusion of the latter's relatives, and that was because of the bond of brotherhood which the Prophet (ﷺ) had established between them (i.e. the Emigrants and the Ansar). So when the Verses:-- "To everyone We have appointed heirs." was revealed, (the inheritance through bond of brotherhood) was cancelled. Ibn `Abbas then said: "And those to whom your right hands have pledged." is concerned with the covenant of helping and advising each other. So allies are no longer to be the heir of each other, but they can bequeath each other some of their property by means of a will.