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ʾaw yuzawwijuhum dhukrānan wa-ʾināthan wa-yajʿalu man yashāʾu ʿaqīman ʾinnahū ʿalīmun qadīrun
or He combines them males and females, and makes sterile whomever He wishes. Indeed, He is all-knowing, all-powerful.
— Ali Quli Qarai
42Ash-ShūrāالشورىVerse 50 of 53
The Consultation42. Ash-Shūrāالشورى
al-Shūrā
The Consultation
MeccanVerse 50 of 53
Surah al-Shura - Verses 49 - 50
49. To Allah belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows female [offspring] upon whom He wills, and bestows male [offspring] upon whom He wills.
50. Or He bestows both males and females [in the same womb], and He renders barren whom He wills. Indeed, He is the Omniscient, the Omnipotent.
Since pre-Islamic Arabs living in the Age of Ignorance preferred male offspring over female ones, the word
is employed for both male and female offspring in Verse 49 to indicate that they are both Divine Gifts and the word:
precedes
with the definite article to say that the male offspring at whom you rejoice are also Divine Gifts. The clause:
designates that God Almighty at times bestows male and/or female offspring. Verse 49 is saying that the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth solely belongs to God Almighty since He is the Possessor of the heavens and the earth and creation of the world and all creatures has been made possible through His Omnipotence and Omniscience and everything is dependent upon His Will. He bestows male and female offspring upon whomever He wills as per His Discretion and Wisdom. He may bestow male and female offspring in pairs or many male and female offspring.
It is dependent upon His Wisdom and Discretion that He makes some females barren and sterile. He is the Omnipotent, the Omniscience. These blessed Verses make a reference to Divine Perfect Might and Knowledge. Nothing may impede His Will.