The Bee
IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE[16:57]
And [thus, too,] they ascribe daughters unto God, who is limitless in His glory – whereas for themselves [they would choose, if they could, only] what they desire:

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* v.57 : The pre-Islamic Arabs believed that the goddesses Al-Lāt, Al-‘Uzzā and Manāt (see note 13 on 53:19-20), as well as the angels, whom they conceived as females, were “God’s daughters.” As against this, the Qur’ān states that God is utterly remote from every imperfection (subhānahu), complete in Himself, and therefore free from the incompleteness inherent in the concept of “progeny” as an extension of one’s own being (cf. 6:100 and the corresponding notes 87 and 88). – This parenthetic passage, comprising verses 57-59, is explained in note 66 below.
* Namely, only male issue, because the pre-lslamic Arabs regarded daughters as no more than a necessary evil.