Tafsir of Az-Zumar 39:6

If you ask: What is the significance of His saying, "Then He made from it its mate," and what meaning of tarakhi (sequence/delay) does it convey?

I say: These are two signs among the many signs enumerated as evidence of His Oneness and Power: the branching out of this creation—which defies enumeration—from the soul of Adam, and the creation of Eve from his short rib. However, God made the former a continuous habit (natural reproduction), while the latter did not follow the habit, for no female other than Eve was created from a man's rib. Thus, it is more profound as a sign and more astonishing to the listener. He connected it with thumma (then) to the first sign to indicate its distinction and superiority, and its "delay" in terms of its status as a sign—it is a delay in rank and degree, not a delay in existence.

It is also said: Thumma relates to the meaning of "one," as if it were said: "He created you from one soul, then God paired it with a mate."

It is also said: He brought forth the progeny of Adam from his back like tiny ants, then after that created Eve.

"And He sent down for you": He decreed and apportioned for you; for His decrees and apportionments are described as descending from heaven, where it is written in the Preserved Tablet: "Everything that is to be, shall be."

It is also said: Livestock cannot live except by vegetation, and vegetation cannot exist except by water. Since He sent down water, it is as if He sent down the livestock.

It is also said: He created them in Paradise, then sent them down.

"Eight pairs": A male and a female of camels, cattle, sheep, and goats. A zawj (pair) is a name for one thing accompanied by another; if it is alone, it is a fard (individual) or watr (odd). God Almighty said: "And He made from it the two pairs, the male and the female" (Al-Qiyamah: 39).

"Creation after creation": A fully formed animal, after bones clothed with flesh, after bare bones, after chewed-like substance (mudghah), after blood clots (alaqah), after a drop of fluid (nutfah).

"The three darknesses": The belly, the womb, and the placenta. It is also said: The loins, the womb, and the belly.

"That is God, your Lord": He whose actions are these is God, your Lord.

"So how are you turned away?": How are you diverted from His worship to the worship of others?

"And He does not approve for His servants disbelief": He does not like it for them.

"And if you are grateful, He approves it for you": He is pleased with it for you.

"And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another": No soul will carry the sin of another.

"Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you of what you used to do. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts."