Tafsir of Ad-Dhuha 93:9

"So as for the orphan, do not oppress" means do not humiliate him, as Ibn Salam stated. Close to this is the statement of Mujahid: "Do not despise him." Sufyan said: "Do not wrong him by squandering his wealth." Similar in meaning is what has been said: "Do not overpower him regarding his wealth." Perhaps this restriction is in consideration of what is common, though it is better to interpret al-qahr (oppression) as both overpowering and humiliation—meaning to dominate in a way that causes harm—or by using the polysemous word for both its meanings, according to those who permit it. In Mufradat al-Raghib, al-qahr is defined as both overpowering and humiliation, and it is used for each of them.

Ibn Mas’ud, al-Sha’bi, and Ibrahim al-Taymi recited it as fala takhar with a kha instead of a qaf. Its meaning, according to what is in al-Bahr, is "do not oppress." In Tahdhib al-Azhari, al-kahr is defined as oppression, frowning of the face, and reviling. Some have chosen the middle meaning here, so the sense is: "Do not frown in his face," which is a prohibition against reviling and oppression, which are implied a fortiori from the meaning you have heard. In any case, the verse serves as evidence for the importance of caring for the orphan.

It is narrated from Ibn Mas’ud in a marfu’ (elevated) report: "Whoever strokes the head of an orphan, for every hair his hand passes over, he shall have a light on the Day of Resurrection." It is also narrated from ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), in a marfu’ report: "When an orphan cries, the Throne of the Most Merciful shakes due to his weeping. Allah (Exalted be He) then says to His angels: 'O My angels, who has made this orphan cry, whose father I have hidden in the dust?' The angels reply: 'You know best.' Allah (Exalted be He) then says: 'O My angels, I call you to witness that whoever quiets him and pleases him, I will surely please him on the Day of Resurrection.'" Consequently, whenever 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw an orphan, he would stroke his head and give him something. Nothing authentic has been established regarding the specific manner of stroking, and the narration from Ibn Mas’ud concerning that has been subject to criticism.

It is narrated from the Prophet (may Allah grant him peace and blessings) that he said: "I and the guardian of the orphan are like these two—if he fears Allah (the Mighty and Majestic)—" and he gestured with his index and middle fingers, along with other similar reports.