What does Quran 43:16 mean?

Quran 43:16 (Surah Az-Zukhruf, Ayah 16) translates to: "Or has He taken, out of what He has created, daughters and chosen you for [having] sons?"

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 43:16 from?

This ayah is from Surah Az-Zukhruf (Ornaments of gold), the 43th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 25.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 43:16?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sahih Muslim, Sunan an-Nasa'i.

What tafsir is available for Quran 43:16?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Abbas, Al-Jalalayn — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 43:16 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Tawhid, Idolatry, Creation, Divine Sovereignty, Truthfulness.

Ayah 15

وَجَعَلُوا۟ لَهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ جُزْءًا ۚ إِنَّ ...

43:16Az-Zukhruf

Ayah 17

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِمَا ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحْمَٰ...

أَمِ ٱتَّخَذَ مِمَّا يَخْلُقُ بَنَاتٍۢ وَأَصْفَىٰكُم بِٱلْبَنِينَ

Amit takhaza mimmaa yakhluqu banaatinw wa asfaakum bilbaneen

Or has He taken, out of what He has created, daughters and chosen you for [having] sons?

Themes in this ayah

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Oneness of Allah86

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Oneness of Allah

43:16Ayah 189

10 ayahs in Az-Zukhruf are strongly about the oneness of Allah. This is one of them.

← Previous on Oneness of Allah43:15But they have attributed to Him from His servants a portion. Indeed, man is clearly ungrateful.Next on Oneness of Allah →43:20And they said, "If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshipped them." They have of that no knowledge. They are not but falsifying.

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 43:16→

Or am has the significance of the hamza of denial; the ‘saying’ is implied in other words a-taqūlūna ‘or do you say that …’ He has adopted from all that He has created daughters for Himself and preferred you privileged you with sons? — that which is the necessary inference from what you claim and which by itself is an abomination.

Have you, besides him, other sons? He said: Yes. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Have you given gifts to all of them like this (as you have given to Nu'man)? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: I cannot bear witness to an injustice.

Sunan an-Nasa'i #3682It was narrated from An-Nu'man bin Bashir that his father Bashir bin Sa'd brought An-Nu'man with him and said:Sahih

"O Messenger of Allah, I have given this son of mine a slave who belonged to me as a present." The Messenger of Allah said: "Have you given a present to all your children?" He said: "No." He said: "Then take (your present) back."

Sahih Muslim #4048Nu'man b. Bashir reported that his father brought him to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said:Sahih

I have donated this slave of mine to my son. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Have you donated to every one of your sons (a slave) like this? He said: No. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) said: Then take him back.

Sunan an-Nasa'i #3681It was narrated from An-Nu'man bin Bashir that his father brought him to the Messenger of Allah and said:Sahih

"I have given my son a slave of mine as a present." The Messenger of Allah said: "Have you given a present to all of your children?" He said: "No." The Messenger of Allah said: "Then take (your present) back."

Sunan an-Nasa'i #3685It was narrated from Bashir that he gave his son a slave as a present, then he came to the Prophet and he wanted the Prophet to bear witness to that. He said:Sahih

"Have you given a similar present to all of your children?" He said: "No." He said: "Then take (your present) back."