وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِلَّهِ ٱلْبَنَـٰتِ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۙ وَلَهُم مَّا يَشْتَهُونَ 57
Translations
And they attribute to Allāh daughters - exalted is He - and for them is what they desire [i.e., sons].
Transliteration
Wa yaj'alūna lillāhi al-banāti subḥānahu wa lahum mā yashtahūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah criticizes the pagan Arabs who attributed daughters to Allah while reserving sons for themselves, considering daughters inferior—a practice contradicting both divine wisdom and human decency. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this reflects the Arabs' jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic ignorance) attitudes toward female children, while the phrase 'Subḥānahu' (Glory be to Him) underscores Allah's absolute transcendence from such illogical and unjust attributions. The ayah highlights the hypocrisy of those who claim to honor Allah while despising what they falsely ascribe to Him.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader Meccan passage (16:57-59) addressing the pre-Islamic Arab practice of female infanticide and their discriminatory treatment of daughters. The context reflects the social customs of Meccan society where daughters were considered a burden and shame, while sons were prized as a source of honor and wealth. This passage serves as a moral indictment of such practices within the framework of correcting theological and ethical understanding.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever has daughters and treats them kindly, they will be a screen for him from the Fire' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi)—emphasizing kind treatment of all family members, particularly daughters.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that assigning inferior status to daughters based on cultural preferences contradicts both divine wisdom and human decency; believers must recognize the equal worth and dignity of all children regardless of gender, reflecting true submission to Allah's perfect justice.
Related Ayahs
وَأَلْقَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ ٱلسَّلَمَ ۖ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
And they will impart to Allāh that Day [their] submission, and lost from them is what they used to invent.
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَٰتٍ فِى جَوِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Do they not see the birds controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? None holds them up except Allāh. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.
هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّآ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَوْ يَأْتِىَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ فَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ وَمَا ظَلَمَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
Do they [i.e., the disbelievers] await except that the angels should come to them or there comes the command of your Lord? Thus did those do before them. And Allāh wronged them not, but they had been wronging themselves.
ثُمَّ كُلِى مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ فَٱسْلُكِى سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا ۚ يَخْرُجُ مِنۢ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ فِيهِ شِفَآءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you]." There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.