وَما خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالأُنثىٰ

By Him who created the male and the female.

EXEGESIS

The mā here can be understood in several different ways. One understanding, that is reflected in our translation, is that it is mawṣūlah and means alladhī (the one who) and thus the meaning would be: By the one who created the male and the female.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Qummi, 2/425.”][1][/su_tooltip]} The reason why mā has been used instead of man, whereby the former is usually used for non-living beings and the latter for living beings, is to create a sense of ambiguity which indicates exaltation (tafkhīm) and thus the meaning would be: I swear by that great thing that created the male and female.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Mizan, 20/302; Fadlallah, 24/294.”][2][/su_tooltip]} It also gives an indication that due to the greatness of that being, man is not able to fully comprehend Him and thus He remains at a level of ambiguity.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Amthal, 20/254.”][3][/su_tooltip]}

Another understanding is that it is maṣdariyyah (infinitive) and thus the meaning would be: By the creation of the male and female.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Daqaiq, 14/304.”][4][/su_tooltip]} The proponents of this view have suggested that this would seem more in line with the swearing of the night and day in the previous verses, in that night and day are elements of the progression of time, and similarly, man and woman represent living progression in the continuous motion of existence.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Fadlallah, 24/295.”][5][/su_tooltip]}

EXPOSITION

The third oath is by the male and female, which can either be referring to them in humans or in all species. In any case, the more one ponders about how different men and women are and how they complete each other and how intricate the system of gender is, the more one realises the greatness of the Creator.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Amthal, 20/254.”][6][/su_tooltip]}

The male and the female could be referring to the category from each species or it could be referring to males and females of humankind, or it could specifically be referring to Adam and Eve.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Mizan, 20/302.”][7][/su_tooltip]}

In light of 41:53, verses 1-2 are pointing to macrocosmic (āfāqī) signs and verse 3 is pointing to microcosmic (anfusī) signs.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Amthal, 20/255.”][8][/su_tooltip]}

[1] Qummi, 2/425.
[2] Mizan, 20/302; Fadlallah, 24/294.
[3] Amthal, 20/254.
[4] Daqaiq, 14/304.
[5] Fadlallah, 24/295.
[6] Amthal, 20/254.
[7] Mizan, 20/302.
[8] Amthal, 20/255.