قَالَتْ يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ ءَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا۠ عَجُوزٌ وَهَـٰذَا بَعْلِى شَيْخًا ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عَجِيبٌ 72
Translations
She said, "Woe to me! Shall I give birth while I am an old woman and this, my husband, is an old man? Indeed, this is an amazing thing!"
Transliteration
Qalat ya waylatā a-alidu wa anā ajūzun wa hādhā baylī shaykhun inna hādhā la-shay'un ajībun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the response of Sarah (wife of Prophet Ibrahim) when informed that she would bear a son despite her advanced age and her husband's old age. Her exclamation expresses astonishment at the divine promise, as both she and Ibrahim were elderly—she beyond childbearing years and he described as a shaykh (old man). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that her amazement was natural from a human perspective, yet she would soon witness the reality of Allah's power to do all things.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Allah's angels visiting Ibrahim to announce the birth of Ishaq (Isaac). The context is from Surah Hud (a Meccan surah), where the story of Ibrahim and the divine promise to grant him a righteous son is presented as a sign of Allah's power and mercy, particularly relevant to the Meccan audience regarding divine promises and resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The story is referenced in Sahih Bukhari regarding the glad tidings given to Sarah. Additionally, Surah Al-Ankabut (29:29-30) and Surah Al-Adiyat contain complementary accounts of this narrative, emphasizing the theme that nothing is difficult for Allah (laysa alayh shay'un).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that what appears humanly impossible or improbable is entirely within Allah's capability; our astonishment at divine promises should not diminish our faith, but rather increase our recognition of Allah's infinite power and mercy beyond human comprehension.
Related Ayahs
وَتِلْكَ عَادٌ ۖ جَحَدُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَعَصَوْا۟ رُسُلَهُۥ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ
And that was ʿAad, who rejected the signs of their Lord and disobeyed His messengers and followed the order of every obstinate tyrant.
وَكُلًّا نَّقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَ ۚ وَجَآءَكَ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْحَقُّ وَمَوْعِظَةٌ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And each [story] We relate to you from the news of the messengers is that by which We make firm your heart. And there has come to you, in this, the truth and an instruction and a reminder for the believers.
وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُفْتَرُونَ
And to ʿAad [We sent] their brother Hūd. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. You are not but inventors [of falsehood].
ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّهُۥ عَلَيْكَ ۖ مِنْهَا قَآئِمٌ وَحَصِيدٌ
That is from the news of the cities, which We relate to you; of them, some are [still] standing and some are [as] a harvest [mowed down].