Tafsir of An-Nahl 16:72

Surah An-Nahl (16): Verse 72

{And Allāh has made for you from yourselves mates...}

This is another category of human conditions mentioned by Allāh, the Exalted, to serve as evidence for the existence of the choosing, Generous God. It is also a reminder of Allāh’s favors upon His servants through such blessings.

{...He has made for you from yourselves mates...}

Some commentators suggest this means Allāh created Eve from Adam’s rib. This view is weak because the address {made for you from yourselves mates} is directed to everyone, so restricting it only to Adam and Eve contradicts the evidence. Rather, this ruling is general for all males and females.

The meaning is that Allāh created women for men to marry. The phrase {from yourselves} is like His saying: {then kill yourselves} (Al-Baqarah: 54) and {greet yourselves} (An-Nūr: 61), meaning one part of yourselves to another. A similar verse is His saying: {And among His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates...} (Ar-Rūm: 21).

Physicians and natural philosophers state that the difference between the male and the female is due to temperament: the one with a hotter temperament is the male, and the one with more coldness and moisture is the female.

They further state: If the semen is poured into the right testicle of the male, and then flows into the right side of the womb, the offspring will be completely male. If it flows into the left testicle of the man, and then flows into the left side of the womb, the offspring will be completely female. If it flows into the right testicle, and then flows into the left side of the womb, the offspring will be male in the nature of females. If it flows into the left testicle of the man, and then flows into the right side of the womb, the offspring will be female in the nature of males.

The essence of this discussion is that the cause for masculinity is heat and dryness, and the cause for femininity is coldness and moisture. However, this cause is extremely weak, as we observe women whose temperament is extremely hot and men whose temperament is extremely cold. If this were the determinant of masculinity and femininity, such cases would be impossible. Thus, it is established that the Creator of the male and the female is the Ancient, Wise God, and the truth of His saying {And Allāh has made for you from yourselves mates} is proven by the evidence we mentioned.

{...and He has made for you from your mates, sons and grandchildren...}

Al-Wāḥidī said: The origin of Ḥafadah (grandchildren/helpers) comes from Ḥafad, which means swiftness in service and work. It is said: ḥafada yaḥfudu ḥafdan wa ḥufūdan wa ḥafadānan (he hastened). From this is the phrase in the Qunūt supplication: "To You we strive and hasten (naḥfud)." Al-Ḥafadah is the plural of Ḥāfid. A Ḥāfid is anyone who hastens in your service and speeds up in obeying you. Its plural is sometimes Ḥafd (without the tā’ marbūṭah), just as Rasad is the plural of Rāṣid. Therefore, the meaning of Ḥafadah in the language is assistants and servants.

It must be that the intended meaning of Ḥafadah in this verse refers to the helpers obtained through the wife. Allāh said: {and He has made for you from your mates, sons and helpers}. Helpers who do not come through the wife do not fall under this verse.

Once this is understood, we say: It has been said they are the in-laws (ukhtān), and it has been said they are the affinal relatives (aṣhār), and it has been said they are the children’s children (grandchildren). The first view—that all of them are included—is preferable, based on what we explained: the term is capable of encompassing all of them according to the shared meaning we mentioned.

{...and has provided for you from the good things...}

After mentioning His favor upon His servants through marriage, and the benefits and interests therein, Allāh mentions His favor upon them through good foods, whether they are from plants (fruits, grains, and drinks) or from animals.

{...Do they then believe in falsehood...}

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allāh be pleased with him) said: This means idols.

Qatādah said: This means Satan.

‘Aṭā’ said: They believe that Allāh has a partner, a consort, and a child, and they attribute these things to Him while neglecting to attribute them solely to Allāh.

There is another interpretation of the verse: After Allāh said {and has provided for you from the good things}, He followed it with {Do they then believe in falsehood}. This means they forbid for themselves good things that Allāh has permitted for them, such as the Baḥīrah, the Sā’ibah, and the Waṣīlah (types of prohibited livestock), while permitting for themselves forbidden things that Allāh has prohibited, such as carrion, blood, pork, and what was slaughtered on idols. That is, they do not judge by those false rulings, and regarding Allāh’s favor in permitting the good and prohibiting the foul, they deny and disbelieve. And Allāh knows best.

Surah An-Nahl (16): Verses 73-74

{And they worship besides Allāh that which does not possess for them any provision from the heavens or the earth, not even a little thing, nor can they (themselves) control.}

{So do not strike for Allāh examples. Indeed, Allāh knows and you do not know.}