Surah Araf ayat 190 Tafsir Quran 7:190

﴿فَلَمَّا آتَاهُمَا صَالِحًا جَعَلَا لَهُ شُرَكَاءَ فِيمَا آتَاهُمَا ۚ فَتَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ﴾
[ الأعراف: 190]

7:190 But when He gives them a good [child], they ascribe partners to Him concerning that which He has given them. Exalted is Allah above what they associate with Him.

But when He gave them a sound one a sound child they ascribed to Him associates shurakā’a a variant reading has shirkan meaning sharīkan ‘an associate’ in that which He had given them by naming it ‘Abd al-Hārith ‘servant of al-Hārith’ when it is not right to be a ‘servant’ ‘abd of any one but ‘God’ sc. ‘Abd Allāh but this namesake ‘Abd is not an association of another with God in terms of servitude for Adam was immune from a sin such as associating others in worship with God. Samura b. Jundub reported that the Prophet s said ‘On one occasion when Eve gave birth — all the children she bore had failed to survive — Satan visited her and said to her “Name it the child ‘Abd al-Hārith and it will live.” She named it so and it lived. This affair was the result of Satan’s inspiration and his doings’ reported by al-Hākim who deemed it the report ‘sound’ sahīh and also reported by al-Tirmidhī who considered it ‘fair-uncommon’ hasan gharīb; but exalted is God above what they the people of Mecca associate in the way of idols this sentence is consequent a supplement to the one beginning with khalaqakum ‘He created you’ so that what comes between the two is a parenthetical statement.

And when Allah Himself did, they ascribed to Him other deities, with whom they incorporated. Glory be to Him and extolled are His glorious attributes. He is infinitely far beyond all those they incorporate with Him

All Mankind are the Offspring of Adam Allah states that He has created all mankind from Adam, peace be upon him, and from Adam, He created his wife, Hawwa' and from them, people started to spread.
Allah said in another Ayah, يأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَـكُمْ شُعُوباً وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَـرَفُواْ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عَندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَـكُمْ ( O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another.
Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer ) who has Taqwa) 49:13, and, يَـأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا ( O mankind! Have Taqwa of your Lord, Who created you from a single person, and from him He created his wife. )4:1 In this honorable Ayah, Allah said; وَجَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا لِيَسْكُنَ إِلَيْهَا ( And (then ) He has created from him his wife, in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her.) so that he is intimate and compassionate with her.
Allah said in another Ayah, وَمِنْ ءايَـتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَجاً لِّتَسْكُنُواْ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ( And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives (spouses ) from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy.) 30:21 Indeed, there is no intimacy between two souls like that between the spouses.
This is why Allah mentioned that the sorcerer might be able with his trick to separate between a man and his wife thus indicating the difficulty of separating them in normal circumstances.
Allah said next, فَلَمَّا تَغَشَّاهَا ( When he covered her ) meaning had sexual intercourses with her. حَمَلَتْ حَمْلاً خَفِيفًا ( she became pregnant and she carried it about lightly ) in reference to the first stage of pregnancy when the woman does not feel pain, for at that time, the fetus will be just a Nutfah ( the mixture of the male and female discharge ), then becomes an `Alaqah ( a piece of thick coagulated blood ) and then a Mudghah ( a small lump of flesh ).
Allah said next, فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ ( and she carried it about ), she continued the pregnancy, according to Mujahid.
It was reported that Al-Hasan, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i and As-Suddi said similarly.
Maymun bin Mahran reported that his father said, "She found the pregnancy unnoticeable." Ayyub said, "I asked Al-Hasan about the Ayah, فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ ( and she carried it about ) and he said, `Had you been an Arab, you would know what it means! It means that she continued the pregnancy through its various stages."' Qatadah said, فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ ( and she carried it about (lightly ).), means, it became clear that she was pregnant.
Ibn Jarir commented, "This Ayah means that the liquid remained, whether she stood up or sat down." Al-`Awfi recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The semen remained in, but she was unsure if she became pregnant or not, فَلَمَّآ أَثْقَلَت ( Then when it became heavy ), she became heavier with the fetus", As-Suddi said, "The fetus grew in her womb." دَّعَوَا اللَّهَ رَبَّهُمَا لَئِنْ ءَاتَيْتَنَا صَـلِحاً ( they both invoked Allah, their Lord (saying ): "If You give us a Salih child,) if he is born human in every respect.
Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas commented, "They feared that their child might be born in the shape of an animal!" while Abu Al-Bakhtri and Abu Malik commented, "They feared that their newborn might not be human." Al-Hasan Al-Basri also commented, "If You ( Allah ) give us a boy." لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّـكِرِينَ فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَـهُمَا صَـلِحاً جَعَلاَ لَهُ شُرَكَآءَ فِيمَآ ءَاتَـهُمَا فَتَعَـلَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ( we shall indeed be among the grateful.
But when He gave them a Salih child, they ascribed partners to Him (Allah ) in that which He has given to them.
High be Allah, Exalted above all that they ascribe as partners to Him.) 7:189-190 Ibn Jarir recorded that Al-Hasan commented on this part of the Ayah, جَعَلاَ لَهُ شُرَكَآءَ فِيمَآ ءَاتَـهُمَا ( they ascribed partners to Him (Allah ) in that which He has given to them) "This occurred by followers of some religion, not from Adam or Hawwa'." Al-Hasan also said, "This Ayah refers to those among the offspring of Adam who fell into Shirk, جَعَلاَ لَهُ شُرَكَآءَ فِيمَآ ءَاتَـهُمَا ( they ascribed partners to Him (Allah ) in that which He has given to them.)" Qatadah said, "Al-Hasan used to say that it refers to the Jews and Christians.
Allah gave them children, and they turned them into Jews and Christians." The explanations from Al-Hasan have authentic chains of narration leading to him, and certainly, it is one of the best interpretations.
This Ayah should therefore be understood this way, for it is apparent that it does not refer to Adam and Hawa', but about the idolators among their offspring.
Allah mentioned the person first Adam and Hawwa' and then continued to mention the species mankind, many of whom committed Shirk.
There are similar cases in the Qur'an.
For cases, Allah said وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَآءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَـبِيحَ ( And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps ) It is well-known that the stars that were made as lamps in the sky are not the same as the shooting missiles that are thrown at the devils mentioned later in the Ayah.
There are similar instances in the Qur'an.
Allah knows best.

(7:190) But when He vouchsafes them a healthy child, they attribute to Him partners regarding what Allah had bestowed upon them. Subliminally exalted is Allah above that which they associate with Him. *146

But when He gives them a good meaning

*146).
The present and succeeding verses ( 190-8 ) seek to refute polytheism.
These verses are devoted to highlighting the implications of the postulate which even the polytheists affirmed - that it is God Who originally created the human species.
They also acknowledge that every human being owes his existence to God.
God also holds absolute power over the entire process leading to man's birth, right from the fertilization of the ovurn in the uterus to its onward development in the form of a living being, then investing it with numerous faculties and ensuring its birth as a sound, healthy baby.
No one has the power to prevent God, if He so willed, from causing a wornan to give birth to an animal or to odd creature, or to a physically or mentally handicapped baby.
This fact is also equally acknowledged by monotheists and polytheists.
It is for this reason that in the final stage of pregnancy, people are inclined to turn to God and pray for the birth of a sound and healthy baby.

It is, however, the very, height of man's ignorance and folly that after a sound and healthy baby has been born as a result of God's will, man makes offerings at the altars of false gods, goddesses, or saints.
Occasionally the names given to the child ( e.g., 'abd al-Rasul, 'abd al-'Uzza, 'abd Shams, etc. ) also indicate that man feels grateful to others than God and regardsthe child as a gift either of sorne Prophet, some noted Companion of the Prophet ( peace be on him ), or some other noted personality such as his spiritual mentor rather than a gift from God.

There has been some misunderstanding with regard to the point emphasized here.
This misunderstanding has been further reinforced by traditions of doubtful authenticity.
The Qur'an mentions that human being's are created from a single person, and obviously here that person means Adam ( peace be on him ).
Now this reference to one person is soon followed by reference to his spouse, and that both prayed to God for the birth of a sound and healthy baby.
And when that prayer was accepted, the couple are mentioned as having associated others with God in the granting of His favour.

The misunderstanding consists in considering this couple, who fell prey to polytheism, to be Adam and Eve.
People resorted to unauthentic traditions to explain the above verse and the story which thus gained acceptance was the following.
It was claimed that Eve suffered several mishaps since her offspring would die after birth.
Satan seized this opportunity to mislead her into naming her baby Abd al-Harith ( the slave of Satan ).
( See the comments of Ibn Kathir on verse 190.
Cf.
Ahmad b.
Hanbal, Musnad, vol.
5, p.
11 - Ed. ) What is most shocking is that some of these unsubstantiated traditions have been ascribed to the Prophet ( peace be on him ).
The fact, however, is that the above account does not have even an iota of truth.
Nor is it, in any way, corroborated by the Qur'an itself.
The only point brought home by the Qur'an is that it is God alone, to the total exclusion of every one else, Who brought the first human couple into being.
And again it is God alone Who causes the birth of each baby born out of the intercourse between a man and a woman.
The Qur'an also points out that the of this truth is innate in human nature which is evident from the fact that in states of distress and crisis man turns prayerfully to God alone.
Ironically, however, after God blesses those prayers with acceptance, a number of people associate others with God in His divinity.
The fact is that the present verses do not refer to any particular man and woman.
The allusion is in fact to every man and woman enmeshed in polytheism.

Here another point deserves attention.
These verses condemn the Arabian polytheists on account of the fact that when God granted them sound children in response to their prayers they associated others with God in offering thanks.
But what is the situation of many Muslims of today who strongly believe in the unity of God? Their situation seems even worse.
It is not uncommon for them to ask others than God to grant children.
They, make vows during pregnancy to others than God, and make offerings to others than God after child-birth.
Yet they are satisfied that they have a full guarantee of Paradise since they are believers in the One True God whereas the Arabian polytheists would inevitably be consigned to Hell.
It is only the doctrinal errors of the pre-Islamic Arabian polytheists which may be condemned.
The doctrinal errors of Muslims are beyond all criticism and censure.

 

All Mankind are the Offspring of Adam Allah states that He has created all mankind from Adam, peace be upon him, and from Adam, He created his wife, Hawwa' and from them, people started to spread.
Allah said in another Ayah, يأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَـكُمْ شُعُوباً وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَـرَفُواْ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عَندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَـكُمْ ( O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another.
Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer ) who has Taqwa) 49:13, and, يَـأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا ( O mankind! Have Taqwa of your Lord, Who created you from a single person, and from him He created his wife. )4:1 In this honorable Ayah, Allah said; وَجَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا لِيَسْكُنَ إِلَيْهَا ( And (then ) He has created from him his wife, in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her.) so that he is intimate and compassionate with her.
Allah said in another Ayah, وَمِنْ ءايَـتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَجاً لِّتَسْكُنُواْ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ( And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives (spouses ) from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy.) 30:21 Indeed, there is no intimacy between two souls like that between the spouses.
This is why Allah mentioned that the sorcerer might be able with his trick to separate between a man and his wife thus indicating the difficulty of separating them in normal circumstances.
Allah said next, فَلَمَّا تَغَشَّاهَا ( When he covered her ) meaning had sexual intercourses with her. حَمَلَتْ حَمْلاً خَفِيفًا ( she became pregnant and she carried it about lightly ) in reference to the first stage of pregnancy when the woman does not feel pain, for at that time, the fetus will be just a Nutfah ( the mixture of the male and female discharge ), then becomes an `Alaqah ( a piece of thick coagulated blood ) and then a Mudghah ( a small lump of flesh ).
Allah said next, فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ ( and she carried it about ), she continued the pregnancy, according to Mujahid.
It was reported that Al-Hasan, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i and As-Suddi said similarly.
Maymun bin Mahran reported that his father said, "She found the pregnancy unnoticeable." Ayyub said, "I asked Al-Hasan about the Ayah, فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ ( and she carried it about ) and he said, `Had you been an Arab, you would know what it means! It means that she continued the pregnancy through its various stages."' Qatadah said, فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ ( and she carried it about (lightly ).), means, it became clear that she was pregnant.
Ibn Jarir commented, "This Ayah means that the liquid remained, whether she stood up or sat down." Al-`Awfi recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The semen remained in, but she was unsure if she became pregnant or not, فَلَمَّآ أَثْقَلَت ( Then when it became heavy ), she became heavier with the fetus", As-Suddi said, "The fetus grew in her womb." دَّعَوَا اللَّهَ رَبَّهُمَا لَئِنْ ءَاتَيْتَنَا صَـلِحاً ( they both invoked Allah, their Lord (saying ): "If You give us a Salih child,) if he is born human in every respect.
Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas commented, "They feared that their child might be born in the shape of an animal!" while Abu Al-Bakhtri and Abu Malik commented, "They feared that their newborn might not be human." Al-Hasan Al-Basri also commented, "If You ( Allah ) give us a boy." لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّـكِرِينَ فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَـهُمَا صَـلِحاً جَعَلاَ لَهُ شُرَكَآءَ فِيمَآ ءَاتَـهُمَا فَتَعَـلَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ( we shall indeed be among the grateful.
But when He gave them a Salih child, they ascribed partners to Him (Allah ) in that which He has given to them.
High be Allah, Exalted above all that they ascribe as partners to Him.) 7:189-190 Ibn Jarir recorded that Al-Hasan commented on this part of the Ayah, جَعَلاَ لَهُ شُرَكَآءَ فِيمَآ ءَاتَـهُمَا ( they ascribed partners to Him (Allah ) in that which He has given to them) "This occurred by followers of some religion, not from Adam or Hawwa'." Al-Hasan also said, "This Ayah refers to those among the offspring of Adam who fell into Shirk, جَعَلاَ لَهُ شُرَكَآءَ فِيمَآ ءَاتَـهُمَا ( they ascribed partners to Him (Allah ) in that which He has given to them.)" Qatadah said, "Al-Hasan used to say that it refers to the Jews and Christians.
Allah gave them children, and they turned them into Jews and Christians." The explanations from Al-Hasan have authentic chains of narration leading to him, and certainly, it is one of the best interpretations.
This Ayah should therefore be understood this way, for it is apparent that it does not refer to Adam and Hawa', but about the idolators among their offspring.
Allah mentioned the person first Adam and Hawwa' and then continued to mention the species mankind, many of whom committed Shirk.
There are similar cases in the Qur'an.
For cases, Allah said وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَآءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَـبِيحَ ( And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps ) It is well-known that the stars that were made as lamps in the sky are not the same as the shooting missiles that are thrown at the devils mentioned later in the Ayah.
There are similar instances in the Qur'an.
Allah knows best.

( But when He gave unto them aright ) a sound human being, ( they ascribed unto Him partners ) they made Iblis a partner ( about that which He had given them ) in naming that which he had given them of offspring: they called him ’Abdullah and ’Abd al-Harth. ( High is He exalted above ) Allah absolves Himself from ( all that they associate (with Him )) of idols.

But when He gave them a Salih (good in every aspect) child, they ascribed partners to Him (Allah) in that which He has given to them. High be Allah, Exalted above all that they ascribe as partners to Him. (Tafsir At-Tabari, Vol. 9, Page 148).

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