• Assigning issues to God

• Holding the Angels as females

• Insisting upon blind following of the ancestors

• The disbelievers retributed

Az-Zukhruf Verses 16 – 25

أَمِ اتَّخَذَ مِمَّا يَخْلُقُ بَنَاتٍ وَأَصْفَاكُمْ بِالْبَنِينَ

What! Hath He taken daughters1(unto Himself) of what He hath (Himself) created, and chosen you to have the sons? (43:16)2

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُمْ بِمَا ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ مَثَلًا ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

And when the news3is given unto anyone of them of what he setteth up a similitude unto the Beneficent (God) his face becometh darkened4and he is choked with rage. (43:17)

أَوَمَنْ يُنَشَّأُ فِي الْحِلْيَةِ وَهُوَ فِي الْخِصَامِ غَيْرُ مُبِينٍ

What! the one5which was brought up amidst ornaments and in disputes can make not itself plain (to be associated with God)? (43:18)6

وَجَعَلُوا الْمَلَائِكَةَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ إِنَاثًا أَشَهِدُوا خَلْقَهُمْ سَتُكْتَبُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ وَيُسْأَلُونَ

And make they the angels who are the servants of the Beneficent (God) - females (deities); What! did they witness their creation? Their witness shall be written down and they shall be they questioned. (43:19)

وَقَالُوا لَوْ شَاءَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ مَا عَبَدْنَاهُمْ مَا لَهُمْ بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ

And say they: “If had willed the Beneficent (God) we should not have worshipped them.” They have no knowledge of this; they do but guess. (43:20)

أَمْ آتَيْنَاهُمْ كِتَابًا مِنْ قَبْلِهِ فَهُمْ بِهِ مُسْتَمْسِكُونَ

Or have We given them a Book ere it that they hold fast7unto it? (43:21)

بَلْ قَالُوا إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ مُهْتَدُونَ

Nay! say they: “Verily we found our fathers on a creed8and verily by their footprints are we guided” (43:22)

وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِنْ نَذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَا إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ مُقْتَدُونَ

And thus, We sent not ere thee in any town a warner, but the luxurious9of it said: “Verily, we found our fathers on a creed, and verily, of their footprints we are the followers” (43:23)

قَالَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِأَهْدَىٰ مِمَّا وَجَدْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَكُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُمْ بِهِ كَافِرُونَ

Said (that warner): “What! even if I bring you a guidance better than that on which found ye your fathers (will ye not believe)?” Said they: “Verily we are disbelievers in whatever ye10are sent with”. (43:24)

فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ

So We did retribute them, and behold thou how was the end of those who belied (Our apostles). (43:25)

Commentary

Verse 16

Since the people held the female sex in contempt, they ascribed daughters to God saying that the angels were the daughters of God. To assign daughters or to imagine God having wives or any issues, is most abominable with God and a blasphemy most abhorred by Him.11

Verse 17

The disbelievers used to assign daughters to God but when they were informed of a daughter born to them, their complexion used to get turned black in their sorrow and disappointment and they were filled with rage.

Verse 18

The reference to idols which when bedecked with ornaments and fixed for worship, could not answer any criticism against them - and yet they were adored as gods and goddesses.12

• 1. Refers to the heathens regarding the angels as the daughters of God and worshipping them.
• 2. Refer to verses 16:57 & 16:62.
• 3. Of the birth of a daughter to themselves - they hated to have daughters - used to bury them alive.
• 4. With sorrow.
• 5. Refers to the idols bedecked with ornaments – unable to speak.
• 6. Refer to verses 20:89 & 21:63.
• 7. hold fast the Book in their arguments.
• 8. a way distinguished.
• 9. Those who indulge in luxury and ease.
• 10. The apostles.
• 11. See verses 16:57 & 16:62.
• 12. See verses 20:89 & 21:66.