فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُمَا صَـٰلِحًا جَعَلَا لَهُۥ شُرَكَآءَ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمَا ۚ فَتَعَـٰلَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ 190
Translations
But when He gives them a good [child], they ascribe partners to Him concerning that which He has given them. Exalted is Allāh above what they associate with Him.
Transliteration
Falamma atahuma salihan jaalaa lahu shuraka'a fima atahuma fataalallahu amma yushrikun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how when Allah grants a couple a righteous child, they associate partners with Allah in their gratitude and supplication, attributing the blessing partly to idols or false deities alongside Allah. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this as referring to the polytheists of Mecca who would invoke their idols when asking for children, and then ascribe the blessing to these false gods. The ayah concludes with Allah's transcendence above such shirk (polytheism), emphasizing that He alone deserves all praise and recognition as the sole Giver of blessings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within a passage (7:189-190) discussing the creation of spouses and the birth of children as divine blessings. The broader context of Surah Al-A'raf addresses the signs of Allah and the ingratitude and shirk of those who reject monotheism. This specific verse reflects the pre-Islamic Arabian practice where pagan Arabs would pray to idols for children and offspring, then thank the idols alongside Allah when blessed with children.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When a child is born to any of you, let him not name it after his forefathers' suggests the importance of proper Islamic practice in welcoming children. Additionally, hadiths emphasizing pure tawhid (monotheism) in all acts of worship relate to the prohibition of shirk mentioned in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to maintain complete monotheism in all circumstances, especially when receiving blessings like children, ensuring that gratitude and supplication are directed solely to Allah without associating partners with Him. It serves as a reminder that acknowledging the true source of all blessings—Allah alone—is fundamental to Islamic faith and prevents the subtle forms of shirk that can enter our hearts when we forget Divine dependence.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ
Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people."
وَبَيْنَهُمَا حِجَابٌ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْأَعْرَافِ رِجَالٌ يَعْرِفُونَ كُلًّۢا بِسِيمَىٰهُمْ ۚ وَنَادَوْا۟ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ أَن سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ لَمْ يَدْخُلُوهَا وَهُمْ يَطْمَعُونَ
And between them will be a partition [i.e., wall], and on [its] elevations are men who recognize all by their mark. And they call out to the companions of Paradise, "Peace be upon you." They have not [yet] entered it, but they long intensely.
وَقَطَّعْنَـٰهُمُ ٱثْنَتَىْ عَشْرَةَ أَسْبَاطًا أُمَمًا ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱسْتَسْقَىٰهُ قَوْمُهُۥٓ أَنِ ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْحَجَرَ ۖ فَٱنۢبَجَسَتْ مِنْهُ ٱثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ۚ وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْغَمَـٰمَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ ۚ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
And We divided them into twelve descendant tribes [as distinct] nations. And We inspired to Moses when his people implored him for water, "Strike with your staff the stone," and there gushed forth from it twelve springs. Every people [i.e., tribe] knew its watering place. And We shaded them with clouds and sent down upon them manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not, but they were [only] wronging themselves.
فَوَقَعَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَبَطَلَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
So the truth was established, and abolished was what they were doing.