Page 152 - Mary: An Exemplary Muslim Woman

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Safeguarding the

Rights of Orphaned Girls

The verse below draws our attention to-
ward the correct treatment of women:

They will consult you concerning women.
Say: "Allah advises about them; and also
what is recited to you in the Book about
orphan girls to whom you do not give the
inheritance they are owed, while at the
same time desiring to marry them; and also
about young children who are denied their
rights: that you should act justly with respect
to orphans." Whatever good you do, Allah knows
it. (Surat an-Nisa': 127)
Some unbelievers seek to dispossess those weak
and vulnerable people who have no guardian to look af-
ter their best interests. One group of such people consists of
female orphans who, because of their wealth, are often sought
out by greedy men. Allah warns believers about these evil-minded peo-
ple, reveals their character traits, and commands them to be righteous.
Believers know that Allah is All-Seeing and will call them to ac-
count for their actions in the Hereafter. They are aware of the loss await-
ing those who cheat and defraud people here or are unjust or merciless
to them. Given this reality, they shun all such evil, knowing that a little
avarice in this life could lead to eternal suffering in the Hereafter.

Therefore, they safeguard the orphan's interests and do what they can to
keep all evil-minded people away from them. Likewise, they strictly
honor the rights of any orphan they seek to marry and have no secret
plan to acquire her wealth for themselves.

Mary: An Exemplary Muslim Woman