Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 31

(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.