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
وَمَا ظَلَمْنَـٰهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۖ فَمَآ أَغْنَتْ عَنْهُمْ ءَالِهَتُهُمُ ٱلَّتِى يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ لَّمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَمَا زَادُوهُمْ غَيْرَ تَتْبِيبٍ
And We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves. And they were not availed at all by their gods which they invoked other than Allāh when there came the command of your Lord. And they did not increase them in other than ruin.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ
Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward.
إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّمَنْ خَافَ عَذَابَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمٌ مَّجْمُوعٌ لَّهُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَذَٰلِكَ يَوْمٌ مَّشْهُودٌ
Indeed in that is a sign for those who fear the punishment of the Hereafter. That is a Day for which the people will be collected, and that is a Day [which will be] witnessed.
وَيَـٰقَوْمِ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيبٌ
And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allāh - [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allāh's earth and do not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending punishment."