أَوْ يُزَوِّجُهُمْ ذُكْرَانًا وَإِنَـٰثًا ۖ وَيَجْعَلُ مَن يَشَآءُ عَقِيمًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ 50
Translations
Or He makes them [both] males and females, and He renders whom He wills barren. Indeed, He is Knowing and Competent.
Transliteration
Aw yuzawwijuhum dhukrana wa-ina-athan wa-yajalu man yasha'u aqeeman innahu alimun qadeerun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah grants children according to His divine wisdom—some receive sons, some daughters, and some both—while He makes whom He wills barren (sterile). Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this demonstrates Allah's absolute sovereignty over creation and His knowledge of what is best for each person. The ayah concludes by emphasizing that Allah is All-Knowing and All-Powerful, encompassing complete wisdom in His decisions regarding human procreation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ash-Shuraa (42), a Meccan surah dealing with divine guidance and the nature of Allah's attributes. The broader context (42:49-50) addresses the complaint of those who desire children, establishing that procreation is entirely within Allah's divine will and wisdom, not subject to human desire or effort alone.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'A child is a blessing (ni'mah) from Allah. Whoever has daughters and treats them well will enter Paradise' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Also relevant: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), emphasizing the blessing of offspring in Islamic family ethics.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to accept Allah's decision regarding children—whether many, few, sons, daughters, or none—with faith and gratitude, recognizing that all circumstances are part of a divine plan rooted in infinite wisdom. It encourages Muslims to surrender to Allah's will rather than despair, while simultaneously emphasizing the spiritual responsibility to honor and nurture whatever children Allah grants.