Women (Al-Nesaa)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ O mankind! Fear your Lord, who created you from a single soul. He created its mate from it and from the two of them spread countless men and women [throughout the earth]. Fear God, in whose name you appeal to one another, and be mindful of your obligations in respect of ties of kinship. God is always watching over you. 1 Hence, render unto the orphans their possessions, and do not substitute bad things [of your own] for the good things [that belong to them,] and do not consume their possessions together with your own: this, verily, is a great crime. 2 And if ye apprehend that ye may not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry such as please you, of other women, by twos or threes or fours, but if ye apprehend that ye shall not act justly, then marry one only, or that which your right hands own that will be more fit, that ye may swerve not. 3 Give women their dowries freely, but if they are pleased to offer you any of it, consume it good and smooth. 4 Do not give to people weak of understanding your property for which God has made you to supervise. Feed and clothe such people and speak to them in a reasonable way. 5 And test the orphans [in your charge] until they reach a marriageable age; then, if you find them to be mature of mind, hand over to them their possessions; and do not consume them by wasteful spending, and in haste, ere they grow up. And let him who is rich abstain entirely [from his ward's property]; and let him who is poor partake thereof in a fair manner. And when you hand over to them their possessions, let there be witnesses on their behalf - although none can take count as God does. 6 For men is a share from what the parents and near relatives leave behind, and for women is a share from what the parents and near relatives leave behind, whether the wealth (inheritance) is small or large; the share is a fixed one. 7 If relatives, orphans or destitute people, are present at the distribution of the legacy, give them something and speak kindly to them. 8 And let those fear (in their behaviour toward orphans) who if they left behind them weak offspring would be afraid for them. So let them mind their duty to Allah, and speak justly. 9 Those who consume the property of orphans unjustly are actually swallowing fire into their own bellies; soon they will burn in the blazing Flame. 10