Az-Zukhruf · Makki · ayah 18 of 89

Az-Zukhruf 43:18

أَوَمَن يُنَشَّؤُا۟ فِى ٱلْحِلْيَةِ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْخِصَامِ غَيْرُ مُبِينٍ

“So is one brought up in ornaments while being during conflict unevident[1435] [attributed to Allāh]?”

Saheeh International

Essence

By their own measure they gave Allah the one they raised in ornaments and kept from debate; the ayah exposes the claim and the upbringing.

A reflection

Does this ayah say women cannot argue?

This is one of the ayat modern readers find hardest. Is one raised in ornaments, and unclear in a dispute, the one you ascribe to Allah? Does the Quran itself say women are decorative and inarticulate?

An honest answer has several parts.

First, most classical commentators did read it as describing girls and women, and several of them added their own era's views about women's nature. That should be said plainly, not hidden.

Second, the commentaries also record another reading. Two early authorities held that the one raised in ornaments refers to the idols themselves, fashioned from gold and silver and decked out. They are 'unclear in dispute' because they stay silent when asked. One major commentator preferred the first reading, but recorded both.

Third, even on the first reading, the argument is built on the Makkans' own values. The previous ayat show their contempt for daughters (43:16–17). One commentary paraphrases this ayah: you have made this one Allah's portion of His creation. By your own reckoning, the one you raise in ornaments and keep from your councils is the one you assign to Him.

Fourth, the verb is passive. Yunashshaʾu: is brought up. One modern commentary locates the weakness in the upbringing itself: unable to make the argument clear because of being raised in adornment and comfort.

And finally, the Quran elsewhere records a woman disputing with the Prophet ﷺ about her husband. Allah's answer begins: Allah has heard the words of the one who argues with you (58:1). Her case was clear enough that revelation came down in reply.

What remains open is how each reader weighs the classical tradition here. But the ayah does not need contempt for women to make its point. It needs only the Makkans' contempt.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.