Translation of the meanings Ayah 31 Surah Al-Isrā’ - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 31

وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوٓاْ أَوۡلَٰدَكُمۡ خَشۡيَةَ إِمۡلَٰقٖۖ نَّحۡنُ نَرۡزُقُهُمۡ وَإِيَّاكُمۡۚ إِنَّ قَتۡلَهُمۡ كَانَ خِطۡـٔٗا كَبِيرٗا

(31) ^[3562]Do not kill your children fearing destitution; We shall provide for them and you; indeed their killing is ever a grievous mistake!^[3563]

[3562] God Almighty, Who wisely provides, warns against the heinous act of killing one’s children fearing destitution (cf. al-Rāzī). The Arabs used to practice this heathen way, especially with girls, who were of less utility in that harsh culture (cf. al-Ṭabarī). The one who does this falls into the great sin of despairing from God’s Mercy, and that He would change their fortunes (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr): “Who would grow despondent of his Lord’s Mercy except the lost ones!” (15: 56).
[3563] This criminal act leads to extremely dire consequences; thus it is considered a “grievous mistake” (khiṭ’an kabīran). It leads to the destruction of the world (cf. al-Qāsimī) through the interruption of human multiplication which is a prerequisite for the thriving habitation (ʿimārah) of the Earth: “When he turns away, he sets about the land to sow corruption and devastate tillage and progeny—surely Allah likes not corruption” (2: 205).
ʿAbdullāh Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه) reported: “I said: “Messenger of Allah, what is the greatest sin?” He said: “That you set up rivals with Allah, when He is the One Who created you!” Then I said: “What then?” He said: “That you kill a child of yours because he eats with you!” (al-Bukhārī: 6811).