“And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.”
From tafsir Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs, the exegesis on this verse says, “(And of His signs) of the signs of His divine Oneness and power (is this: He created for you spouses) human beings like yourselves (from yourselves that ye might find rest in them) so that husband may find rest in his wife.” This exegesis first recognizes that God was wise to create not one sex but two. In addition, by mentioning human beings like yourselves, he recognizes their likeness, which means man and woman are the same in terms of basic form.
The interpretation further mentions husband and wife, meaning that the verse refers to a married couple. The exegesis also mentions that God ordained love between husband and wife (and mercy) for husband towards wife. In this interpretation, one can think that love is only for husband and wife while mercy is only for the husband to feel towards the wife. To clarify, the exegesis goes further to explain that this love is also for the children and the old. Mercy, conversely, is meant to be for the young ones. This implies that love is shared among all human beings. However, it means that mercy is only for the older people to feel to the young ones.
Finally, the exegesis mentions, “(Lo, herein) in that which I have mentioned (indeed are portents) signs and lessons (for folk who reflect) upon what Allah created.” In this part, the exegesis seeks to make the people understand that the things mentioned as signs are meant to show his oneness and power. Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs exegesis of this verse seeks to interpret the literal meaning without using metaphorical meanings. The truth is that anybody can feel mercy towards the other, including wife to the husband.
Tafsir by al-Jalalayn offers an almost similar interpretation of the verse. This exegesis says, “And of His signs is that He created for you, from yourselves, mates — Eve was created from Adam’s rib and the remainder of mankind from the [reproductive] fluids of men and women.” This interpretation takes “mate” to mean spouse as used in Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn tafsir. Using the example of Adam and Eve, the Quran shows how the woman was created from man. It goes further to show how other people were created biologically from Adam and Eve. This exegesis explains how human beings are created from each other as the verse mentions. This exegesis took the literal meaning of the verse, laying much of its interpretation from the words ‘mate’ and ‘yourselves’.
He goes further to show that they were supposed to find peace from each other, as well as become intimate. This exegesis dwells on the physical and biological aspect of recreation and love. It takes love to mean intimacy, through which other people are created. He goes further to say, “and He ordained between you, all, affection and mercy. Surely in that, mentioned, there are signs for a people who reflect, upon God’s handiwork, exalted be He.” In this part, he takes the literal meaning of the verse. The exegesis takes the part on affection and mercy to be straightforward; hence, it does not need further clarification. This is true considering that it uses ordinary words. In the final sentence of the verse, he only explains what people have to think about. In this case, he mentions that it is God’s work, for which He should be exalted.
The main differences between the two exegeses exist in the biological detail, where the second one inclines more on the intimacy side of love from which all humankind is created. Unlike al-Jalalayn, Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs considers love to be for all people and not just between husband and wife. It also explains the verse in more details, living no part without an interpretation. The second exegesis is more literal, leaving some parts unexplained, perhaps, to indicate their self-explanatory nature.
However, the tafsir Ibn Kathir is more similar to the explanation of al-Jalalayn. In the first part, it says, “It is He Who has created you from a single person, and He has created from him his wife, in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her. (7:189).” By using the word “pleasure”, he inclines more on the side of intimacy just like al-Jalalayn. He goes further to explain that it refers to Hawwa, who was created from Adam. Hawwa in this case means Eve. In addition, he explains that females and males are the same, which enables peace. Had the wife been created from another species, there would be no peace between the two. In the next part on affection and mercy, he says that God made love and kindness between husband and wife so that they can take care of each other’s needs. In the final part, it is said, “verily, in that are indeed signs for people who reflect.”
Each feels compassion for the other, which brings them together. This exegesis goes further than the rest of tafsirs in its explanation. While the rest have provided short interpretations of the texts of the Quran, this has gone deeper to explain the parts of the verse. It is also literal in its explanation, never giving metaphorical interpretations. All these exegeses take the words of this verse to mean what they say. For instance, all recognize that “mate” means spouse of husband and wife relationship. They also interpret the phrase “created for you from yourselves” as the creation of Eve from Adam, as well as the ability of human beings to reproduce.
This verse is talking about the signs that God has used to prove His oneness and power. It is through His creation that we are able to realize his power. In verses before and after this one, there are other signs that prove God’s power. However, this verse is about the creation of the two sexes. God was wise to create a woman out of man; thus, a man can find peace in her. The two are the same in form and humanity but with different needs, physical capabilities, emotions, mental abilities, and psychological qualities. God went further to create affection and love between them, which allows them to complement each other perfectly. Their differences match with the differences of the other in order to enable a complementing relationship. Each can get what they desire from the other, which allows companionship.
The verse also talks about creation, which continues even today through the relationship between a man and a woman. God put the ability to create in the desires of each sex. Through intimacy, the two sexes are able to fulfill their desires, which results in the creation of other human beings. The three tafsirs have recognized this relationship between man and woman. However, it is important to interpret the main words from which these interpretations come from.
The three main words are “tranquility”, “affection”, and “mercy”. The first word “tranquility” in Arab is Sakoon. According to the Arab-English Lexicon, this calmness is felt when a person is surrounded by their loved ones.In some translations, “calmness” and “peace” have been used. The next word is “affection”, which is a translation of Mawaddah; this means love that has passion and a strong liking for something. In this verse it refers to man and wife. The last word is “mercy”, which is a translation of rahmah. This is about forgiving each other and not wanting to see the other hurt. It is the feeling of compassion and forgiveness towards another person that one has the power to punish. The first two words are understandable within the verse since they show people’s compassionate feelings to each other. However, with mercy meaning forgiving another person, it means that there are times when husband and wife have arguments or are wrong about each other, which requires forgiveness.
Bibliography
Lane Edward. An Arabic-English Lexicon: Derived From the Best and the Most Copious Eastern Sources London UK: Williams and Norgate, 1863.
“Tafsir Ibn Kathir.” quran4u.com. accessed December 20, 2013. http://www.quran4u.com/tafsir%20ibn%20kathir/030%20Rum.htm#وَمِنْ
“The Tafsirs.”Altafsir.com. accessed December 20, 2013. http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=73&tSoraNo=30&tAyahNo=21&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2
