Surah Al-An'aam · سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ · Juz 8

Q 6:137

وَكَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَ لِكَثِيرٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ قَتْلَ أَوْلَـٰدِهِمْ شُرَكَآؤُهُمْ لِيُرْدُوهُمْ وَلِيَلْبِسُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ دِينَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا فَعَلُوهُ ۖ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ

Translations

And likewise, to many of the polytheists their partners have made [to seem] pleasing the killing of their children in order to bring about their destruction and to cover them with confusion in their religion. And if Allah had willed, they would not have done so. So leave them and that which they invent.

Sahih International · EN

Et c'est ainsi que leurs divinités ont enjolivé à beaucoup d'associateurs le meurtre de leurs enfants, afin de les ruiner et de travestir à leurs yeux leur religion. Or si Allah voulait, ils ne le feraient pas. Laisse-les donc, ainsi que ce qu'ils inventent.

Muhammad Hamidullah · FR

Tafsir

Just as Satan made this unfair judgement fair seeming to the idolaters, the devils –who were their partners and associates – made it seem good to them that they should kill their children out of the fear of poverty. The devils inspired them with this in order to destroy them by their committing the act of murder, which Allah had made unlawful, and to make their religion confusing for them such that they did not know anymore what Allah had commanded or prohibited for them. If Allah had willed for them not to do this, they would not have done so. However, He willed it out of His wisdom. So leave, O Messenger, these idolaters and their fabrications about Allah, because that will not harm you, and entrust their matter to Allah.

Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir al-Quran · Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies

Read Ibn Kathir (Ibn Kathir (abridged, English))

And so to many of the idolators, their "partners" have made fair seeming the killing of their children, in order to lead them to their own destruction and cause confusion in their religion. And if Allah had willed, they would not have done so. So leave them alone with their fabrications (137) Shaytan Lured the Idolators to Kill Their Children Allah says, just as the Shayatin lured the idolators to assign a share for Allah from what He created of agriculture and cattle - and a share for the idols, they also made it seem fair for them to kill their children, for fear of poverty, and burying their daughters alive, for fear of dishonor. Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn 'Abbas that he commented; وَكَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَ لِكَثِيرٍ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ قَتْلَ أَوْلَادِهِمْ شُرَكَاؤُهُمْ (And so to many of the idolators, their "partners" have made fair seeming the killing of their children...) "They make killing their children attractive to them." Mujahid said, "Idolators' partners among the devils ordered them to bury their children for fear of poverty." As-Suddi said, "The devils commanded them to kill their daughters so that they, لِيُرْدُوهُمْ (lead them to their own destruction), and to, وَلِيَلْبِسُوا عَلَيْهِمْ دِينَهُمْ (cause confusion in their religion.)" Allah said, وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا فَعَلُوهُ (And if Allah had willed, they would not have done so.) meaning, all this occurred by Allah's leave, will and decree, but He dislikes these practices, and He has the perfect wisdom in every decree. He is never questioned about what He does, but they all will be questioned. فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ (So leave them alone with their fabrications.) meaning, avoid and abandon them and what they do, for Allah will judge between you and them.

Arabic text: Tanzil (Uthmani). Translations: Sahih International (en), Muhammad Hamidullah (fr). tanzil.net