سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 66
وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ لَعِبْرَةً ۖ نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِى بُطُونِهِۦ مِنۢ بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَّبَنًا خَالِصًا سَآئِغًا لِّلشَّـٰرِبِينَ ﴿66﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And verily! In the cattle, there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, from between excretions and blood, pure milk; palatable to the drinkers.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِنَّ
wa-inna
And indeed
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ
l-anʿāmi
the cattle
لَعِبْرَةًۭ ۖ
laʿib'ratan
(is) a lesson
نُّسْقِيكُم
nus'qīkum
We give you to drink
مِّمَّا
mimmā
from what
فِى
fī
(is) in
بُطُونِهِۦ
buṭūnihi
their bellies
مِنۢ
min
from
بَيْنِ
bayni
between
فَرْثٍۢ
farthin
bowels
وَدَمٍۢ
wadamin
and blood
لَّبَنًا
labanan
milk
خَالِصًۭا
khāliṣan
pure
سَآئِغًۭا
sāighan
palatable
لِّلشَّـٰرِبِينَ
lilshāribīna
to the drinkers
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
And surely, there is a lesson for you in livestock: We give you to drink pure milk from what is in their bellies, between excretions [63] and blood, milk that is pure and pleasant for those who drink it.
[63]
Allah’s Powers in the Creation of Milk:
The term “farth” applies only to that type of dung or excrement which is present in the stomach or abdomen, and when it exits in the form of dung, etc., through the anus, it is no longer called “farth” but rather “rowth.” In this verse, after water, Allah Almighty has mentioned the second great drinkable blessing: milk. The creation of milk takes place in a wondrous manner inside the belly of the female. Attention is drawn to this in the verse. One aspect of Allah’s power is that whether they are male or female of the same species, both eat the same food. From this food, the useful part, which sustains human life, becomes blood. The remaining waste is expelled through the anus, etc. But in the female, from this same food, a third thing—milk—is also produced, and it is produced only in the female, not in the male. What is even more astonishing is that from two impure and forbidden things like blood and dung, a third thing—milk—is obtained, which is lawful, extremely white, pleasant in color, pure, delightful, and tasty. Furthermore, it is not just a drink, but serves as a complete food for the nourishment of the human body. It not only quenches thirst but also satisfies hunger. And the initial nourishment of the young of lactating animals is based solely on this milk. Then, such an abundance of milk is produced in the bellies of livestock that after nourishing their young, the owners of the livestock also obtain a considerable amount of milk. In the body of the lactating female, the organs that produce milk appear at the time of her maturity, commonly known as udders. And the most astonishing thing about the production of milk is that this machinery for producing milk in the female’s udders only begins to function when the female becomes pregnant. Before this, although the udders are present, they do not function. When pregnancy occurs, this machinery begins its natural work. So much so that by the time the offspring is born, the female’s blood is converted into milk, and Allah Almighty provides timely nourishment for the newborn and even teaches the baby how to suckle. And all these processes occur in such a manner that a person is compelled to acknowledge the boundless powers, wisdoms, and purposes of Allah Almighty.
[63]
Allah’s Powers in the Creation of Milk:
The term “farth” applies only to that type of dung or excrement which is present in the stomach or abdomen, and when it exits in the form of dung, etc., through the anus, it is no longer called “farth” but rather “rowth.” In this verse, after water, Allah Almighty has mentioned the second great drinkable blessing: milk. The creation of milk takes place in a wondrous manner inside the belly of the female. Attention is drawn to this in the verse. One aspect of Allah’s power is that whether they are male or female of the same species, both eat the same food. From this food, the useful part, which sustains human life, becomes blood. The remaining waste is expelled through the anus, etc. But in the female, from this same food, a third thing—milk—is also produced, and it is produced only in the female, not in the male. What is even more astonishing is that from two impure and forbidden things like blood and dung, a third thing—milk—is obtained, which is lawful, extremely white, pleasant in color, pure, delightful, and tasty. Furthermore, it is not just a drink, but serves as a complete food for the nourishment of the human body. It not only quenches thirst but also satisfies hunger. And the initial nourishment of the young of lactating animals is based solely on this milk. Then, such an abundance of milk is produced in the bellies of livestock that after nourishing their young, the owners of the livestock also obtain a considerable amount of milk. In the body of the lactating female, the organs that produce milk appear at the time of her maturity, commonly known as udders. And the most astonishing thing about the production of milk is that this machinery for producing milk in the female’s udders only begins to function when the female becomes pregnant. Before this, although the udders are present, they do not function. When pregnancy occurs, this machinery begins its natural work. So much so that by the time the offspring is born, the female’s blood is converted into milk, and Allah Almighty provides timely nourishment for the newborn and even teaches the baby how to suckle. And all these processes occur in such a manner that a person is compelled to acknowledge the boundless powers, wisdoms, and purposes of Allah Almighty.
