سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ
Surah Al-An'aam (6) — Ayah 121
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَفِسْقٌ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِهِمْ لِيُجَـٰدِلُوكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ ﴿121﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allâh’s Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal), for sure it is Fisq (a sin and disobedience of Allâh). And certainly, the Shayâtîn (devils) do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you, and if you obey them [by making Al-Maitah (a dead animal) legal by eating it], then you would indeed be Mushrikûn (polytheists); [because they (devils and their friends) made lawful to you to eat that which Allâh has made unlawful to eat and you obeyed them by considering it lawful to eat, and by doing so you worshipped them; and to worship others besides Allâh is polytheism].
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَأْكُلُوا۟
takulū
eat
مِمَّا
mimmā
of that
لَمْ
lam
not
يُذْكَرِ
yudh'kari
has been mentioned
ٱسْمُ
us'mu
(the) name
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
on it
وَإِنَّهُۥ
wa-innahu
and indeed, it (is)
لَفِسْقٌۭ ۗ
lafis'qun
grave disobedience
وَإِنَّ
wa-inna
And indeed
ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ
l-shayāṭīna
the devils
لَيُوحُونَ
layūḥūna
inspire
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
to
أَوْلِيَآئِهِمْ
awliyāihim
their friends
لِيُجَـٰدِلُوكُمْ ۖ
liyujādilūkum
so that they dispute with you
وَإِنْ
wa-in
and if
أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ
aṭaʿtumūhum
you obey them
إِنَّكُمْ
innakum
indeed, you
لَمُشْرِكُونَ
lamush'rikūna
(would) be the polytheists
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.
121. And do not eat of that upon which Allah’s name has not been mentioned [126], for indeed, it is sinful. Surely, the devils whisper to their friends to dispute with you, and if you obey them, you would surely be among the polytheists [128].
[126] That which, at the time of slaughter, is dedicated to anyone other than Allah is, according to the explicit statements of multiple verses of the Quran, forbidden. And that from which Allah’s name is deliberately omitted at the time of slaughter is, according to this verse, forbidden. However, if one forgets to mention Allah’s name at the time of slaughter, there is no harm in eating it, because the Prophet ﷺ has said that the slaughtered animal of a Muslim is lawful. Also, the proof of this is the narration of Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “People come to us selling meat. They are new to Islam. We do not know whether they mentioned Allah’s name at the time of slaughter or not?” The Prophet ﷺ said: “You yourselves recite ‘Bismillah’ and eat it.” [بخاري۔ كتاب الذبائح والصيد والتسميه۔ باب ذبيحه الاعراب و نحوهم] Also see the footnote of verse 138 of this Surah.
[127] Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that some people came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: “Should we eat what we ourselves kill (slaughter), but not eat what Allah kills (i.e., what dies naturally)?” At that time, this verse was revealed. [ترمذي، ابواب التفسير]
[128]
The Authority of Permitting and Prohibiting Belongs Only to Allah:
That is, shirk is not only to worship someone other than Allah, or to call upon them for the fulfillment of needs and removal of difficulties, or to offer sacrifices or vows in their name, but also to consider as lawful what someone other than Allah declares lawful, and to consider as unlawful what they declare unlawful, is also shirk. This is because all authority to declare lawful and unlawful belongs only to Allah. Thus, when this verse ﴿اِتَّخَذُوْٓا اَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ اَرْبَابًا مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ وَالْمَسِيْحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ۚ وَمَآ اُمِرُوْٓا اِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوْٓا اِلٰهًا وَّاحِدًا ۚ لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ ۭسُبْحٰنَهٗ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُوْنَ﴾ was revealed, Adi bin Hatim (who was previously a Christian) said: “O Messenger of Allah! We did not consider our scholars and spiritual guides as our Lord.” The Prophet ﷺ asked Adi (may Allah be pleased with him): “Did you accept as lawful what they declared lawful, and as unlawful what they declared unlawful?” Adi replied: “Yes, that was the case.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “That is taking them as your Lord.” [ترمذي۔ ابواب التفسير] In this verse, Muslims are being warned not to fall into such misleading and polytheistic traps of the Jews, and if they follow the Jews in this matter, they too will become polytheists.
[126] That which, at the time of slaughter, is dedicated to anyone other than Allah is, according to the explicit statements of multiple verses of the Quran, forbidden. And that from which Allah’s name is deliberately omitted at the time of slaughter is, according to this verse, forbidden. However, if one forgets to mention Allah’s name at the time of slaughter, there is no harm in eating it, because the Prophet ﷺ has said that the slaughtered animal of a Muslim is lawful. Also, the proof of this is the narration of Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “People come to us selling meat. They are new to Islam. We do not know whether they mentioned Allah’s name at the time of slaughter or not?” The Prophet ﷺ said: “You yourselves recite ‘Bismillah’ and eat it.” [بخاري۔ كتاب الذبائح والصيد والتسميه۔ باب ذبيحه الاعراب و نحوهم] Also see the footnote of verse 138 of this Surah.
[127] Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that some people came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: “Should we eat what we ourselves kill (slaughter), but not eat what Allah kills (i.e., what dies naturally)?” At that time, this verse was revealed. [ترمذي، ابواب التفسير]
[128]
The Authority of Permitting and Prohibiting Belongs Only to Allah:
That is, shirk is not only to worship someone other than Allah, or to call upon them for the fulfillment of needs and removal of difficulties, or to offer sacrifices or vows in their name, but also to consider as lawful what someone other than Allah declares lawful, and to consider as unlawful what they declare unlawful, is also shirk. This is because all authority to declare lawful and unlawful belongs only to Allah. Thus, when this verse ﴿اِتَّخَذُوْٓا اَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ اَرْبَابًا مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ وَالْمَسِيْحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ۚ وَمَآ اُمِرُوْٓا اِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوْٓا اِلٰهًا وَّاحِدًا ۚ لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ ۭسُبْحٰنَهٗ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُوْنَ﴾ was revealed, Adi bin Hatim (who was previously a Christian) said: “O Messenger of Allah! We did not consider our scholars and spiritual guides as our Lord.” The Prophet ﷺ asked Adi (may Allah be pleased with him): “Did you accept as lawful what they declared lawful, and as unlawful what they declared unlawful?” Adi replied: “Yes, that was the case.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “That is taking them as your Lord.” [ترمذي۔ ابواب التفسير] In this verse, Muslims are being warned not to fall into such misleading and polytheistic traps of the Jews, and if they follow the Jews in this matter, they too will become polytheists.
