تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَىٰٓ 22
Translations
That, then, is an unjust division.
Transliteration
Tilka idhan qismatu deezan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns an unjust and inequitable division, specifically referring to the pagan Arab practice of attributing daughters to Allah while reserving sons for themselves. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as Allah's rebuke of their illogical and discriminatory theology, emphasizing that such an allocation would be profoundly unfair and contrary to divine wisdom. The word 'deezan' (unjust/inequitable) underscores the absurdity of this polytheistic claim.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Najm's refutation of pre-Islamic Arabian idolatry, particularly the false doctrine that angels were daughters of Allah. The broader surah addresses pagan misconceptions about the divine realm and establishes the absolute oneness and justice of Allah. This verse directly follows the mention of how Arabs attributed daughters to Allah while keeping sons for themselves.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (Book 65, Hadith 4720) records the Prophet's (peace be upon him) strong condemnation of those who attributed daughters to Allah, describing it as a grave injustice. Additionally, Surah An-Najm's overall theme is supported by hadiths about the Prophet's night journey (Isra and Mi'raj), during which these truths about monotheism were revealed.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's justice is perfect and incomparable to human concepts of fairness, and that assigning partners to Allah through illogical and inequitable claims contradicts both reason and divine wisdom. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of consistency in belief and the rejection of practices and doctrines that are fundamentally unjust or irrational.
Related Ayahs
وَلَن يَنفَعَكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ إِذ ظَّلَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ
And never will it benefit you that Day, when you have wronged, that you are [all] sharing in the punishment.
مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَٱهْدُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Other than Allāh, and guide them to the path of Hellfire
ٱنطَلِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ
[They will be told], "Proceed to that which you used to deny.
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَنزَلْنَا ٱلْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥ وَرُسُلَهُۥ بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ
We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that Allāh may make evident those who support Him and His messengers unseen. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.