Surah As-Saffat — Verse 154

Word Meanings:

• مَا لَكُمْ (What is the matter with you): An expression of astonishment and rebuke, meaning "What has happened to you?" or "What is wrong with you?"
• كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ (How do you judge?): Referring to their corrupt reasoning and unjust verdict regarding Allah.

Explanation of the Verse:

This verse is a powerful rhetorical rebuke directed at the polytheists of Makkah who claimed that angels were Allah's daughters while they preferred sons for themselves. Allah, in His infinite wisdom and justice, challenges their flawed logic with a question that exposes the absurdity of their claim.

The verse asks: "What is the matter with you? How do you judge?" — meaning, what has corrupted your reasoning to such a degree that you attribute daughters to Allah while you yourselves despise daughters and desire only sons? This was a common practice among the Arabs of the pre-Islamic era, who would bury their newborn daughters alive out of shame, yet they dared to assign daughters to the Creator of the heavens and the earth!

This rhetorical question serves multiple purposes:

1. It shames them by highlighting the contradiction in their beliefs — they assigned to Allah what they themselves considered inferior and disgraceful.
2. It demonstrates the corruption of their intellect and judgment, as no sound mind would accept such an inconsistent and unjust attribution.
3. It invites reflection: if they would never accept daughters for themselves, how could they attribute them to the Most Merciful, the Most Wise?

The verse is a call to reason and self-accountability. It urges every human being to examine their beliefs and ensure they are not falling into similar contradictions — attributing imperfections to Allah while demanding perfection for themselves.

A Da'wah Reflection:

Dear reader, this verse teaches us a profound lesson about the importance of sound reasoning and the purity of our beliefs about Allah. Islam invites you to use your intellect, to question, and to seek the truth. The Quran repeatedly challenges people to reflect and reason, because true faith is never blind — it is built on knowledge, certainty, and a heart that submits to the undeniable truth of Allah's perfection.

When you contemplate the universe around you — its order, its beauty, its precision — you will find that it points to a Creator who is far above any imperfection. How could the One who created the heavens and the earth, who gave you your intellect and your senses, be described in a way that you yourselves would find shameful?

Islam purifies your understanding of God and elevates your soul. It teaches you to worship Allah alone, with love, hope, and reverence, and to describe Him only as He has described Himself — with perfection, majesty, and beauty. Embrace this truth, and you will find peace in your heart and clarity in your mind.