أَصْطَفَى ٱلْبَنَاتِ عَلَى ٱلْبَنِينَ 153
Translations
Has He chosen daughters over sons?
Transliteration
Astafaa al-banāt ʿalā al-banīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rhetorically questions the pagan Arabs' claim that angels are female and daughters of Allah, which is presented as an absurd and illogical assertion. The verse challenges their preference for daughters over sons while simultaneously attributing daughters to Allah—a contradiction that exposes the irrationality of their polytheistic beliefs. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse refutes the pre-Islamic Arabian practice of female infanticide and their simultaneous worship of female deities, highlighting the cognitive dissonance of their idolatry.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah As-Saffat's refutation of polytheistic beliefs and false attributions to Allah. It directly addresses the Meccan pagans' claim that angels are daughters of Allah, a belief condemned throughout the Quran. The broader surah focuses on monotheism and the futility of associating partners with Allah.
Related Hadiths
Narrated by ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAbbas (may Allah be pleased with him): The pre-Islamic Arabs practiced female infanticide and attributed daughters to Allah while considering sons a blessing for themselves—a hypocrisy the Quran frequently highlights. Related thematically: Sahih Bukhari records the Prophet's (ﷺ) condemnation of those who dislike having daughters, as mentioned in various hadith collections addressing family honor.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize logical inconsistencies in false belief systems and to appreciate that true wisdom lies in consistent monotheism. It also serves as a historical reminder of how societies that reject divine guidance often embrace contradictory and harmful practices, encouraging modern readers to examine their own beliefs for coherence and alignment with divine truth.