فَذٰلِكَ الَّذي يَدُعُّ اليَتيمَ
That is the one who drives away the orphan.
EXEGESIS
Yaduʿʿu is a trilateral verb from the root d-ʿ-ʿ which means driving someone or something away with harshness.
Yatīm is an orphan, defined more precisely as an individual under the age of puberty who has lost their father. Therefore, there are two conditions for someone to be categorised as an orphan in Islamic jurisprudence: they should have lost their father and they are under the age of puberty; furthermore, they are only considered an orphan until the age of puberty. Such individuals are not old enough to stand up for their rights, and at the same time they do not have a father to stand up for them, hence making them vulnerable. In Islamic literature there are many traditions and numerous verses of the Quran about protecting and observing the rights of orphans. Latīm is another similar term used for an individual who has lost both his father and mother.
Fa (then) at the beginning of the verse implies that the sentence is the answer to an elliptical conditional clause, giving the meaning: If you have not known the one who rejects the Day of Judgement, these are those who reject it.
EXPOSITION
The first characteristic which the Quran describes for those who reject and deny retribution is that they are harsh with orphans and drive them away. Had they believed in any form of reckoning they would have had mercy upon orphans and would not have treated them harshly.
The Quran in many instances speaks about the prohibition of ill-treatment towards orphans: As for the orphan, do not oppress him (93:9), or even treating them dishonourably: But when He tests him and tightens for him his provision, he says: ‘My Lord has humiliated me.’ No indeed! Rather you do not honour the orphan (89:16–17). They must be treated fairly and amicably, not only financially, but also emotionally and psychologically. However, the people described in this verse degrade, disrespect, and drive away orphans from themselves. This is the characteristic of an individual who practically denies the Day of Recompense and their denial ultimately leads to the denial of the Quran and the divine message.
INSIGHTS FROM HADITH
Imam al-Ṣādiq (a) is reported to have said: ‘Whoever wants to be included in the [special] mercy of God and enter paradise should have mercy upon the orphan and care for the weak.’
Imam al-Ṣādiq (a) is reported to have said: ‘No individual strokes the head of an orphan out of mercy except that God grants him light in the hereafter for every hair.’
REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE
Almost all exegetes agree on the interpretation of this verse. However, Zamakhsharī writes that in this verse an orphan is one who is unable to defend himself regardless of age. This would therefore include someone who is over the age of puberty.
The Quran accords special significance to orphans due to their vulnerability and weakness in society.
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
- Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
- Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
- Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgement and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
- To turn aside the needy from judgement, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
[1] Raghib, under d-ʿ-ʿ.
[2] Raghib, under y-t-m.
[3] Mizan, 20/426.
[4] Mizan, 20/426.
[5] Amali.S, p. 389.
[6] Thawab, p. 200.
[7] Kashif, 7/665.
[8] Job 6:27.
[9] Psalms 82:3.
[10] James 1:27.
[11] Jeremiah 22:3.
[12] Isaiah 10:2.