سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ

Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 31

The Night Journey · Meccan · Juz 15 · Page 285

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وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَوْلَـٰدَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَـٰقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْـًٔا كَبِيرًا ﴿31﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We shall provide for them as well as for you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin.

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَلَا walā And (do) not
تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ taqtulū kill
أَوْلَـٰدَكُمْ awlādakum your children
خَشْيَةَ khashyata (for) fear
إِمْلَـٰقٍۢ ۖ im'lāqin (of) poverty
نَّحْنُ naḥnu We
نَرْزُقُهُمْ narzuquhum (We) provide for them
وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۚ wa-iyyākum and for you
إِنَّ inna Indeed
قَتْلَهُمْ qatlahum their killing
كَانَ kāna is
خِطْـًۭٔا khiṭ'an a sin
كَبِيرًۭا kabīran great

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 31){وَ لَا تَقْتُلُوْۤا اَوْلَادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ اِمْلَاقٍ …:} Although both boys and girls are included in offspring, in the history of the Arabs, it is mostly the killing of girls that is mentioned, and Allah Almighty said: «وَ اِذَا الْمَوْءٗدَةُ سُىِٕلَتْ » [ التکویر : ۸ ] "And when the girl who was buried alive is asked." {’’ الْمَوْءٗدَةُ ‘‘} By using the feminine form, it is apparent that it was the girl who was buried alive, but if it is called "nafs maw'udah," then both boy and girl can be meant, because the word "nafs" is feminine in the Arabic language, so the meaning would be: "And when the soul that was buried alive is questioned." And although it is generally stated that they killed the girl out of misplaced honor, no one can be more truthful than Allah Almighty. He has mentioned offspring in general, both boys and girls, and has stated the cause of killing as present poverty or fear of future poverty. Yes, it is correct that besides poverty, undue honor was also a cause for killing offspring. For the wisdom of the order and other benefits in {’’ نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَ اِيَّاكُمْ ‘‘} and {’’ نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَ اِيَّاهُمْ ‘‘}, see Surah Al-An'am (151). {’’ خِطْاً ‘‘} and {’’اِثْمٌ‘‘} have the same form and meaning, that is, deliberate sin.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

31. 1. This verse has also appeared in Surah Al-An'am, 151. In the hadith, it is mentioned that after shirk, the greatest sin declared by the Prophet ﷺ is this: "an taqtula waladaka khashyata an yat'ama ma'ak." (Sahih Bukhari) — "that you kill your child out of fear that he will eat with you." Nowadays, the grave sin of killing children is being committed on a large scale throughout the world under the attractive title of family planning, and men, in the name of "better education and upbringing," and women, to "maintain their beauty," are commonly committing this crime. May Allah protect us from it.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

And do not kill your children for fear of poverty [36]. We provide for them and for you. Surely, killing them is a great sin.

[36]
Killing Children and Family Planning Out of Fear of Poverty:

Killing children out of fear of poverty is, in fact, a sign of lack of trust in Allah’s attribute of being the Provider, or a direct attack on it. Allah has answered this by saying that He is already providing for you, and just as He provides for you, He will surely provide for your children as well. And if you are so afraid of poverty, then you should die yourself first—why do you kill your children? So that this worry of yours may end altogether. And in the end, it is stated that this act of yours is a very great sin. In Arabia, the killing of children used to happen individually, but nowadays, similar acts are being carried out collectively and by governments, and very attractive names are given to the departments responsible for this, such as the Department of Family Planning or the Department of Population Welfare. And the motivating force behind this act is the same “fear of poverty.” Also, in this regard, please see the footnotes of Surah Al-An’am, verses 137 and 151.
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