لِّلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ يَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ إِنَـٰثًا وَيَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ٱلذُّكُورَ 49
Translations
To Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He creates what He wills. He gives to whom He wills female [children], and He gives to whom He wills males.
Transliteration
Lillahi mulku as-samawati wa-al-ardi. Yakhluqu ma yasha. Yahabu liman yasha inathan wa yahabu liman yasha adh-dhukur.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute sovereignty over the heavens and earth, and His complete authority in creation and provision. Allah creates whatever He wills and bestows upon whom He wills daughters and upon whom He wills sons, emphasizing that the determination of offspring's gender is entirely within Allah's divine wisdom and power, not subject to human desire or control. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi note this ayah refutes the pre-Islamic Arabian practice of resenting the birth of daughters, establishing that all children are blessings from Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Ash-Shuraa, which addresses fundamental Islamic principles of belief (tawhid). The verse comes in a context discussing Allah's creative power and wisdom, responding to the pre-Islamic Arabs' cultural preference for sons and their criticism of those blessed with daughters, establishing the Islamic perspective on gender and divine providence.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Sahih Bukhari (2468) where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever has a daughter and does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and does not favor his son over her, Allah will enter him into Paradise.' This reinforces the ayah's implicit message about accepting and honoring daughters as divine gifts.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should recognize that the blessing of children—regardless of gender—comes from Allah's divine wisdom, and should cultivate gratitude and equal love for all children rather than harboring cultural biases. This ayah teaches us to surrender to Allah's will in matters beyond our control and to see all His blessings as opportunities for spiritual growth.