فَأَمَّا ٱلْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ
So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him].
From Ad-Duha: as for the orphan, do not oppress him.
✦ Read in context — quran.com/93/9
Qur’an by topic
Qur’an verses about orphans
Do not oppress the orphan. The Qur’an returns to orphans again and again, from their property to how they are spoken to.
The Qur’an returns to orphans in surah after surah. It guards their property, warns that those who consume it unjustly fill their bellies with fire, tells the Prophet ﷺ, himself an orphan, not to oppress the orphan, and counts driving the orphan away as a sign of denying the Religion. Each verse is shown in Arabic with the Saheeh International translation and a short note on what it says.
The verses
فَذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِى يَدُعُّ ٱلْيَتِيمَ
For that is the one who drives away the orphan
Surah Al-Ma'un describes the one who denies the Religion: he drives away the orphan.
✦ Read in context — quran.com/107/2
كَلَّا ۖ بَل لَّا تُكْرِمُونَ ٱلْيَتِيمَ
No! But you do not honor the orphan
From Al-Fajr: no, but you do not honour the orphan.
✦ Read in context — quran.com/89/17
وَيُطْعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسْكِينًۭا وَيَتِيمًۭا وَأَسِيرًا
And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive,
The righteous give food, despite loving it, to the needy, the orphan and the captive.
✦ Read in context — quran.com/76/8
وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَتَبَدَّلُوا۟ ٱلْخَبِيثَ بِٱلطَّيِّبِ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حُوبًۭا كَبِيرًۭا
And give to the orphans their properties and do not substitute the defective [of your own] for the good [of theirs]. And do not consume their properties into your own. Indeed, that is ever a great sin.
Give orphans their property, and do not swap your bad for their good.
✦ Read in context — quran.com/4/2
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ ظُلْمًا إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِى بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًۭا ۖ وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًۭا
Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a Blaze.
Those who consume the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming fire into their bellies.
✦ Read in context — quran.com/4/10
فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۗ وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ ۖ قُلْ إِصْلَاحٌۭ لَّهُمْ خَيْرٌۭ ۖ وَإِن تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ ٱلْمُفْسِدَ مِنَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَعْنَتَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ
To this world and the Hereafter. And they ask you about orphans. Say, "Improvement for them is best. And if you mix your affairs with theirs - they are your brothers. And Allah knows the corrupter from the amender. And if Allah had willed, He could have put you in difficulty. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Asked about orphans: improving their condition is best, and if you mix your affairs with theirs, they are your brothers.
✦ Read in context — quran.com/2/220
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Open the library →Frequently asked questions
What does the Qur’an say about orphans?
It tells believers not to oppress the orphan (93:9), to give orphans their property (4:2), and warns that consuming it unjustly is consuming fire (4:10).
Which surah talks about orphans?
Many do. Ad-Duha (93:9) and Al-Ma'un (107:2) are short surahs that both mention the orphan, and An-Nisa has the longest passage on orphans' property.
Was the Prophet ﷺ an orphan?
Surah Ad-Duha, addressed to the Prophet ﷺ, says 'Did He not find you an orphan and give refuge?' (93:6), then 'as for the orphan, do not oppress him' (93:9).