Surah Al-An'aam (6) — Ayah 38

(Ayah 38) ➊ {وَ مَا مِنْ دَآبَّةٍ فِي الْاَرْضِ …:} means any creature that walks on the earth (see Surah An-Nur: 45) and any bird that flies with two wings, but all are communities like you. Here is a question: the meaning of "ta'ir" is itself "bird" (one that flies), so what is the need for the words "that flies with its two wings"? The answer is that sometimes a fast runner is also called a "bird," as it may be said, "the horse was flying." The words "two wings" have removed this possibility and clarified that here the real bird is meant, which flies with wings, not just something fast.

➋ {اِلَّاۤ اُمَمٌ اَمْثَالُكُمْ:} means that all creatures that walk on the earth and fly are communities like you; they are born like you, reach youth, then die. Like you, their creation, their provision, the fulfillment of all their needs, and the arrangement of their interests are all the responsibility of Allah Almighty. (See Surah Hud: 6) Just as Allah Almighty takes care of their interests, He also takes care of all your interests. Sending signs and miracles according to the demands of these people is itself against their own interests.

➌ {مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتٰبِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ:} {’’ الْكِتٰبِ ‘‘} refers to the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz), which encompasses all the conditions of the creatures; there is nothing whose explanation is left out in it. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The pen has dried over what you are going to do." [بخاری، القدر، باب جف القلم علی علم اللہ… قبل ح : ۶۵۹۶ ] {’’ الْكِتٰبِ ‘‘} here can also mean the Noble Qur'an. Razi said (this meaning is more apparent) in the sense that Allah Almighty has explained all the principles (fundamental matters) of the religion in it, and the details not mentioned have been explained by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) through his words and actions, as Allah Almighty said: «وَ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتٰبَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ » [ النحل : ۸۹ ] "We have sent down to you the Book as a clarification of all things." And Muslims were commanded that whatever the Messenger commands you, do it, and whatever he forbids you, abstain from it, as He said: «وَ مَاۤ اٰتٰىكُمُ الرَّسُوْلُ فَخُذُوْهُ وَ مَا نَهٰىكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوْا » [ الحشر : ۷ ] In summary, the Prophetic hadith is also a divine book, and there is nothing in the religion that has not been explained in {’’ الْكِتٰبِ ‘‘ } (Qur'an and hadith).

➍ {ثُمَّ اِلٰى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُوْنَ:} The disbelievers have been warned that when Allah Almighty is not unaware of the conditions of any animal or bird on earth, and its record of deeds is preserved and it will also be recompensed, then why do you think that you will not be recompensed for your deeds? (Razi)

➎ From this verse: «ثُمَّ اِلٰى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُوْنَ» and another verse: «وَ اِذَا الْوُحُوْشُ حُشِرَتْ» [ التکویر : ۵ ] (And when the wild beasts are gathered) it is known that animals will also be resurrected on the Day of Judgment. They will not be held accountable for disbelief, polytheism, faith, or deeds, but any injustice that one animal did to another will certainly be recompensed, as Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Surely, the rights will be given to those entitled to them, to the extent that the hornless goat will be recompensed by the horned goat." [ مسلم، البر والصلۃ، باب تحریم الظلم : ۲۵۸۲ ] Some scholars think that this is stated as a parable, because animals are not legally responsible, but the explicit words "recompense" in the hadith negate this view.

38. 1. That is, Allah created them in the same way He created you, He provides for them just as He provides for you, and just like you, they are also under His power and knowledge.

38. 2. By "book" or "register" is meant the Preserved Tablet (Lawh Mahfuz). That is, everything is recorded there, or it means the Quran, in which every matter of religion has been illuminated in detail or summary, as stated elsewhere (ۭ (وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتٰبَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَّهُدًى وَّرَحْمَةً وَّبُشْرٰى لِلْمُسْلِمِيْنَ) 16:89 (We have sent down to you a Book which explains everything). Here, according to the context, the first meaning is closer.

38. 3. That is, all the aforementioned groups will be gathered together. From this, a group of scholars has deduced (as evidence) that just as all humans will be resurrected and their reckoning will be taken, animals and all other creatures will also be resurrected and their reckoning will also be taken, as in a hadith the Prophet ﷺ said, if a horned goat wronged a hornless goat, then on the Day of Resurrection, recompense will be taken from the horned goat. (Sahih Muslim) Some scholars have taken "gathering" to mean only death, that is, all will die, and some scholars have said that here "gathering" refers to the gathering of the disbelievers, and the additional matters mentioned in between are as parenthetical statements, and the aforementioned hadith in which recompense from the goat is mentioned is an example, the purpose of which is to clarify the importance and greatness of the reckoning on the Day of Resurrection, or that only the oppressor and the oppressed among the animals will be resurrected, and the oppressed will be recompensed from the oppressor, then both will be annihilated. (Fath al-Qadir) and others, and this is also supported by some hadiths.

38. There is no creature that moves on the earth, nor any bird that flies with its wings, but they are communities like you [43]. We have not neglected anything in the Book of Decree. Then they will all be gathered to their Lord [44].

[43] That is, all living beings—whether they are insects, birds, or animals—receive revelation from Allah just as you do, and all these species are bound by Allah’s laws and do not, nor can they, deviate in the slightest from their natural limits. Through revelation, all these living beings are taught the knowledge that is useful and necessary for their species and for the survival of their kind, and they are forbidden from things that are harmful to them. For example, it is forbidden for cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, etc., to eat meat, and if they commit this act, it will certainly harm them. Similarly, it is forbidden for a lion to eat grass and obligatory for it to eat meat. If it does the opposite, it will suffer great harm and lose its life. Bees have been taught by revelation to build a certain kind of home, then to suck nectar from fruits and flowers to make honey, and in any case, to obey their queen bee, the Yasub. In short, revelation is sent to every species, and its law is distinct. Now, the power of will and choice that has been given to humans is accompanied by trial and test, and this is only for humans. The betterment and salvation of humans lies in the fact that, without demanding any sensory miracle, they use their intellect and will to make themselves, like other species, bound by the commands of Allah.

[44]
The Resurrection of Animals:

From this verse, as well as another verse ﴿وَاِذَا الْوُحُوْشُ حُشِرَتْ﴾, it is understood that animals will also be resurrected on the Day of Judgment. They will not be held accountable for disbelief, polytheism, faith, or deeds, but any injustice that one animal has done to another will certainly be requited, because they too have been given a certain amount of intellect. As is evident from the following hadith: Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Prophet ﷺ said, “On the Day of Judgment, the rights of those entitled will be given to them, to the extent that retaliation will be taken from the horned goat for the hornless goat.” [مسلم۔ كتاب البروالصلة۔ باب تحريم الظلم]