Surah Al-An'aam (6) — Ayah 143

(Ayah 144,143) ➊ {ثَمٰنِيَةَ اَزْوَاجٍ:} This is the object (maf’ul bihi) of {’’ اَنْشَاَ ‘‘} in verse (141). {’’ اَزْوَاجٍ ‘‘’’ زَوْجٌ ‘‘} is the plural. In Arabic, each of the two individuals in a pair is called “zawj,” whether male or female. Therefore, the meaning of “zawjain” (a pair) will be (male and female, two kinds), i.e., one pair, not two pairs. Accordingly, the translation “eight kinds” has been given.

➋ {قُلْ ءٰٓالذَّكَرَيْنِ۠ حَرَّمَ …… : } When the polytheists declared certain specific animals among camels, cows, and sheep/goats as forbidden, and among their unborn offspring, the living ones as forbidden for women and the dead ones as lawful for all, Allah Almighty is now demanding proof from them for this: if their reasoning is rational, then tell us, is the reason for prohibition that both are males? If so, then why do you eat many of their males? Or is it because they are females? Then why do you consider many of their female animals lawful? Or is it because of the unborn offspring? Then why do you yourselves eat many unborn offspring? And if the reasoning is based on revelation, then bring a command from Allah in which He has declared any male or female or unborn offspring of these animals as lawful or unlawful according to your claim, or were you yourselves present when Allah issued this command of making lawful or unlawful? Then tell, who is a greater wrongdoer than the one who neither heard himself, nor heard through any messenger, but is fabricating a lie against Allah from his own side? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “I saw ‘Amr bin Luhayy dragging his intestines in Hell; he was the first to set free animals (Bahira, Sa’iba, Wasila, and Hami) in the name of idols.”[ بخاری، التفسیر، باب : « ما جعل اﷲ من بحيرة ولا سائبة……» : ۴۶۲۳ ]

The purpose is to refute the prohibition of animals that the polytheists themselves declared unlawful, that Bahira, Sa’iba, etc., are animals they have forbidden from their own side, whereas Allah Almighty has made these animals lawful.

➌ { وَ مِنَ الْاِبِلِ اثْنَيْنِ وَ مِنَ الْبَقَرِ اثْنَيْنِ :} Deer is included in the species of goat, and buffalo, nilgai, and wild ass (onager) are of the species of cow and ox. These animals are not so common in Arabia. The four well-known kinds of livestock are those mentioned here.

143. 1. That is, اَنْشَاَ ثَمَانِیَۃَ اَزْوَاجٍ (اسی اللہ تعالیٰ نے آٹھ زوج پیدا کیئے) A male and female of the same species are called a "zawj" (pair), and even one individual of these two can be called "zawj." Are both of them considered a pair for each other? In the Quran, at this place as well, "azwaj" is used in the sense of individuals. That is, Allah created 8 individuals who are pairs for each other. It is not that "zawj" means pairs were created, because in that case, the number would become 16 instead of 8, which does not correspond to the next part of the verse.

143. 2. This is a substitute for ثَمَانِیَۃَ, and it means two types: male and female, that is, from sheep, a male and a female, and from goats, a male and a female were created (the term 'sheep' includes the fat-tailed sheep and the ram).

143. 3. The polytheists used to declare some animals forbidden on their own accord; regarding this, Allah is asking whether Allah has forbidden their males, or their females, or the offspring that are in the wombs of both females? The meaning is that Allah has not forbidden any of them.

143. 4. If you have any evidence for declaring something forbidden, then present it, that بَحِیْرَۃ, سَاَئِبَۃِ, وَصِیْلَۃِ, and حام, etc., are forbidden on the basis of this evidence.

143. (Allah has created) eight pairs (of livestock): two of sheep and two of goats. Say (O Prophet): "Has He forbidden the two males or the two females, or what the wombs of the two females contain [155]? Inform me with knowledge, if you are truthful."

[155] In this verse and the next, Allah Almighty has rationally questioned the self-made restrictions of these polytheists so that the irrationality of their statements becomes clear. Allah Almighty first mentioned eight pairs, meaning there are four kinds in total and eight pairs, for example: sheep and ram, goat and she-goat, camel and she-camel, and cow and ox. And these are the animals found in Arabia. Now Allah Almighty has instructed His Prophet to ask these polytheists: What is this matter that the male of a species is lawful but the female is unlawful, or the female is lawful and the male is unlawful, or the animal itself is lawful, but if a living offspring comes out of its belly, it is unlawful for some and lawful for others, and if it is dead, then it is lawful for all? These are such irrational things that sound intellect refuses to accept them. Then, can Allah command such absurd things, and can you show such irrational rulings from any heavenly book?