Do Not Kill Your Children From Fear of Poverty

Twice God tells us in the Quran not to kill our children due to fear of poverty 17:31 and 6:151, but there is a slight difference to how God assures the believers in these two verses.

In 17:31 it says God provides “for them and for you” while in 6:151 God informs us that He provides “for you and for them.” Why the difference?

It is interesting to note that the word for “fear” in Arabic “خَشْيَةَ” only appears in 17:31 (them & you) and not in 6:151 (you & them). I believe there is a particular reason for this.

When we fear, it is for something that may happen in the future. If someone is already poor their fear is different than someone who is not poor, but fears they will become poor if they have a child.

Therefore, the parents in 17:31 are NOT poor prior to having their child, but fearing the possibility of falling in poverty, and God is assuring them that He provides for “them (their children who they fear they will not be able to feed), as well as for you (the parents).”