Surah An-Najm — Verse 21

Word Meanings:

• الذَّكَر (Adh-Dhakar): The male offspring.
• الأنثى (Al-Untha): The female offspring.

Tafsir (Explanation):

This verse addresses the polytheists of Makkah with a powerful rhetorical question that exposes the utter illogicality of their beliefs. They claimed that the angels—whom they worshipped alongside Allah—were Allah’s daughters, while they themselves preferred sons and despised daughters. In fact, they were so averse to having daughters that they would bury their newborn girls alive.

Allah, in His infinite wisdom, turns their own flawed reasoning against them: "Do you have the male offspring, and He has the female?" The question is a devastating indictment of their hypocrisy. If they themselves consider daughters to be inferior and undesirable, how could they possibly attribute daughters to the Lord of the heavens and the earth? This is a division of shares that is utterly unjust—they assign the best for themselves and the worst for their Creator, who is far above and beyond any of their false attributions.

This verse serves as a timeless reminder of the danger of following one's whims and desires instead of sound reason and divine revelation. The polytheists were not guided by evidence or truth; they were merely projecting their own flawed preferences onto their concept of God.

A Call to Reflection and Faith:

Dear reader, pause and reflect on the majesty of Allah. He is the Creator of all things—the One who gives life and death, who is perfect in every attribute, and who is far removed from any imperfection or deficiency. How could anyone, in their right mind, attribute to Him something they themselves despise?

This verse invites us to purify our understanding of Allah from any false notions and to submit to Him with sincerity. It also reminds us of the immense mercy of Allah—that He sent His final Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), with guidance that corrects our beliefs and leads us to the straight path. The Qur'an is a light that dispels the darkness of ignorance and superstition. Embrace it, and you will find peace, purpose, and a connection with your Lord that transcends all worldly concerns.

Let this verse be a call to you: free your heart from blind following and false assumptions, and open it to the pure, untainted message of Islam—the message of Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah), which elevates the soul and brings true happiness in this life and the Hereafter.