Tazkirul Quran, Qur’an 16:57–60
Bees (Al-Nahl)
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
English text; the translator is not named in the archive’s data.
Translation
(57) They assign daughters to God—glory be to Him!—but for themselves [sons] that they desire to have. (58) When the birth of a girl is announced to any of them, his face darkens and he is filled with gloom. (59) In his shame he hides himself away from his people, because of the bad news he has been given. Should he keep her and feel disgraced or bury her in the dust? How ill they judge! (60) The attribute of evil applies to those who do not believe in the Hereafter, while to God applies the highest attribute, for He is Mighty, the Wise.
Commentary
(a) Why does a man want children? It is for the purpose of compensating for his shortcomings. But God is above such things. The Majesty and Power of God, which is evident in the existence of the universe, shows that God is far above any shortcomings to compensate which He would feel the necessity of creating a son or a daughter. The fact is that if God were deficient in any way, He would not have been God at all. God is God because He is entirely flawless.