What is the wisdom behind making "females" indefinite and "males" definite in the verse: "He grants to whom He wills females, and grants to whom He wills males," and what is the significance of presenting females before males?

Scholars have mentioned reasons for the indefinite mention of females (إناث) in the noble verse. These include that indefiniteness is the default for generic nouns, or to emphasize the guardianship and honor of males.

As for the precedence of females in the verse, wisdoms have been mentioned for it, such as: enjoining their care and attention to their upbringing due to their weakness, or to nullify pre-Islamic notions about daughters, or because they are more numerous for procreation, or an indication of auspiciousness in their birth.

Al-Alusi opines that the verse indicates that Allah distributes blessings and afflictions according to His wisdom, and acts purely by His will. Females were mentioned first because the Arabs considered them a tribulation, so it is as if the meaning is: He grants whom He wills what is not desired by them, and He grants whom He wills what is desired by them.