Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 103

(Ayah 103) {مَا جَعَلَ اللّٰهُ مِنْۢ بَحِيْرَةٍ …:} In the above verses, it was forbidden to probe into such matters and ask such questions that were not made obligatory upon the people; now in this verse, it is forbidden to make such acts obligatory upon oneself that Allah has not made obligatory. (Kabir)

The Arabs in the time of ignorance used to set animals free in the name of idols, then considered it forbidden to benefit from them. Here, four types of animals are mentioned. Sa'id bin Musayyib (may Allah have mercy on him) says: (1) "Bahira" is the animal whose milk is reserved for the idols, then no one among the people would milk it. (2) "Sa'iba" is the one that they would set free for their deities and nothing would be loaded upon it. (3) "Wasilah" is the she-camel that gives birth to a female for the first time, then again gives birth to a female the second time, they would set it free in the name of their idols (because Wasilah is derived from Wasl), this name was given because it gave birth to two females consecutively, with no male in between. (4) "Ham" is the stud camel by whose mating a specific number of she-camels become pregnant, they would set it free in the name of their idols and nothing would be loaded upon it and its name would be "Hami." Sa'id bin Musayyib (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I saw 'Amr bin 'Amir Khuza'i dragging his intestines in the Fire, he was the first person who started the custom of setting Sa'iba free." [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب : «ما جعل اللہ من بحیرۃ …» : ۴۶۲۳ ] This explanation of Bahira, Sa'iba, etc., has been given by Sa'id bin Musayyib (may Allah have mercy on him). The polytheists of Arabia were not united upon one religion, especially innovations were different for every tribe, therefore, other explanations of these four have also come from the Tabi'in, so some have said that Bahira is the one whose ear is slit in the name of idols. This is from "Bahr" {’’ فَعِيْلَةٌ ‘‘} meaning {’’ مَفْعُوْلَةٌ ‘‘}, which means to split or tear. Sa'iba is the one set free; if a she-camel gave birth to ten offspring, all female, she would be set free, she was neither ridden, nor would anyone drink her milk except for her offspring and a guest. Wasilah is the one that gives birth to two female offspring seven times consecutively. Hami means the one who protects itself; the camel from whose back ten offspring are born, it is made a stud and set free, as it has protected its back, then it is neither ridden, nor loaded, nor prevented from water or fodder. The further injustice was that they would declare such acts as Allah's command. Allah refuted this by saying {’’ مَا جَعَلَ اللّٰهُ ‘‘}. Their other explanations are also mentioned in the books of Tafsir, and the reason has already been mentioned above that every ignorant Arab had his own way. The practice of setting animals free in the name of other than Allah still continues among so-called Muslims besides the disbelievers, for example, cows of saints, or animals in the name of various shrines, wherever they roam, no one says anything to them.

13. 1. These are the categories of animals that the Arabs used to dedicate to their idols. Various explanations have been given for them. The following explanation is narrated from Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib ؓ in Sahih Bukhari: The animal whose milk was stopped from being milked and it was said that this is for the idols. Thus, no one would touch its udders. The animal that was set free for the idols, they would not use it for riding nor for carrying loads. The animal from which a female was born for the first time, and then again a female was born, meaning after one female, another female was born, and there was no male in between, such a she-camel was also set free for the idols. The practice of offering such dedications to idols continues even today among polytheists, and even among many so-called Muslims.

103. Allah has not instituted anything concerning Bahirah, Sa’ibah, Wasilah, or Ham. But the disbelievers invent lies against Allah [151], and most of them do not understand (and follow these false practices).

[151]
The Customs of Bahirah, Saibah, Wasilah, and Ham:

Saeed bin Musayyib says that Bahirah is a milch animal whose milk is withheld in the name of idols so that no one may milk it. Saibah is the animal that is set free in the name of idols; no load is placed on it nor is it ridden (i.e., a bull). Wasilah is the she-camel that gives birth to a female the first time and again a female the second time; such a she-camel is also set free in the name of idols. Ham is the male camel from whose seed ten offspring have been born; it too is set free as a stud in the name of idols. Saeed bin Musayyib says that Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ said that the Prophet ﷺ said: I saw Amr bin Amir Khuza'i dragging his intestines in Hell. He was the first to introduce the custom of the stud (bull). [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]

The Amr bin Amir Khuza'i mentioned in this hadith is also referred to as Amr bin Luhayy Khuza'i in another narration. This person became the ruler of Makkah about three hundred years before your (the Prophet's) prophethood. He introduced many innovations into the religion of Ibrahim, making many lawful things unlawful and unlawful things lawful. He also popularized idol worship in Makkah. It often happens that rulers, kings, or prominent people invent evil customs, and their subordinates begin to accept and like them. Gradually, these evil customs come to be regarded as part of the religion.

What is even more ironic is that such polytheistic customs were invented by their elders, but their descendants would attribute them to Allah, claiming that Allah had commanded so. The ignorant, who are usually the majority in every society, would accept this fabrication, and thus such customs would become widespread. In refutation of this, Allah revealed these verses.