سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ
Surah Al-An'aam (6) — Ayah 138
وَقَالُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أَنْعَـٰمٌ وَحَرْثٌ حِجْرٌ لَّا يَطْعَمُهَآ إِلَّا مَن نَّشَآءُ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ حُرِّمَتْ ظُهُورُهَا وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ لَّا يَذْكُرُونَ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا ٱفْتِرَآءً عَلَيْهِ ۚ سَيَجْزِيهِم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ ﴿138﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And according to their claim, they say that such and such cattle and crops are forbidden, and none should eat of them except those whom we allow. And (they say) there are cattle forbidden to be used for burden (or any other work), and cattle on which (at slaughtering) the Name of Allâh is not pronounced; lying against Him (Allâh). He will recompense them for what they used to fabricate.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَقَالُوا۟
waqālū
And they say
هَـٰذِهِۦٓ
hādhihi
These
أَنْعَـٰمٌۭ
anʿāmun
(are) cattle
وَحَرْثٌ
waḥarthun
and crops
حِجْرٌۭ
ḥij'run
forbidden
لَّا
lā
no (one)
يَطْعَمُهَآ
yaṭʿamuhā
can eat them
إِلَّا
illā
except
مَن
man
whom
نَّشَآءُ
nashāu
we will
بِزَعْمِهِمْ
bizaʿmihim
by their claim
وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ
wa-anʿāmun
And cattle
حُرِّمَتْ
ḥurrimat
forbidden
ظُهُورُهَا
ẓuhūruhā
(are) their backs
وَأَنْعَـٰمٌۭ
wa-anʿāmun
and cattle
لَّا
lā
not
يَذْكُرُونَ
yadhkurūna
they mention
ٱسْمَ
is'ma
(the) name
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
عَلَيْهَا
ʿalayhā
on it
ٱفْتِرَآءً
if'tirāan
(as) an invention
عَلَيْهِ ۚ
ʿalayhi
against Him
سَيَجْزِيهِم
sayajzīhim
He will recompense them
بِمَا
bimā
for what
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they used to
يَفْتَرُونَ
yaftarūna
invent
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.
138. They say, "These cattle and crops are forbidden. None may eat of them except those whom we will,"—so they claim. And there are cattle whose backs are forbidden (neither can anyone ride them nor carry loads on them), and cattle over which they do not pronounce Allah’s name (at the time of slaughter). [148] All this is a fabrication against Allah. Soon, Allah will repay them for their fabrications.
[148]
The Polytheists’ Self-Made Shariah:
The list of polytheistic customs of these polytheists is very long. Their elders gradually formulated an entire shariah, some further aspects of which Allah Almighty has mentioned in this verse and the next, and they are as follows:
(1) Among these polytheists, it was customary that if they made a vow regarding a certain crop or animal that it was dedicated to a particular idol, shrine, or lady saint, then not everyone could partake of such an offering. Rather, they had made a list regarding this as well: if the vow was of a certain type, then such-and-such people could eat from it, and if it was of another type, then such-and-such others.
(2) The animals dedicated to idols or shrines were forbidden for common people and even the original owner to ride upon, even during the journey of Hajj. Because at that time, they would have to say «لبيك اللهم لبيك».
(3) Only the caretakers of the shrine and the priests of the idols could benefit from these dedicated animals. But now, mentioning Allah’s name over them was forbidden, because they had been devoted to false deities. Whether milking them, riding them, slaughtering them, or eating them—at no time was it permissible to mention Allah’s name over them, so that there would be no association of Allah in the offerings dedicated to these deities.
(4) Among the animals dedicated to idols or shrines, such as Bahirah, Saibah, etc., if after slaughtering a female, a live offspring was found in her womb, then only men could eat its meat, not women. However, if the offspring was stillborn or died immediately after birth, then women could also partake in it. Such or similar customs are also prevalent among us, for example, the “Bibi Sahiba ki Sahanak,” which only married women can eat; men and widows cannot. All these are matters of disbelief and polytheism.
[148]
The Polytheists’ Self-Made Shariah:
The list of polytheistic customs of these polytheists is very long. Their elders gradually formulated an entire shariah, some further aspects of which Allah Almighty has mentioned in this verse and the next, and they are as follows:
(1) Among these polytheists, it was customary that if they made a vow regarding a certain crop or animal that it was dedicated to a particular idol, shrine, or lady saint, then not everyone could partake of such an offering. Rather, they had made a list regarding this as well: if the vow was of a certain type, then such-and-such people could eat from it, and if it was of another type, then such-and-such others.
(2) The animals dedicated to idols or shrines were forbidden for common people and even the original owner to ride upon, even during the journey of Hajj. Because at that time, they would have to say «لبيك اللهم لبيك».
(3) Only the caretakers of the shrine and the priests of the idols could benefit from these dedicated animals. But now, mentioning Allah’s name over them was forbidden, because they had been devoted to false deities. Whether milking them, riding them, slaughtering them, or eating them—at no time was it permissible to mention Allah’s name over them, so that there would be no association of Allah in the offerings dedicated to these deities.
(4) Among the animals dedicated to idols or shrines, such as Bahirah, Saibah, etc., if after slaughtering a female, a live offspring was found in her womb, then only men could eat its meat, not women. However, if the offspring was stillborn or died immediately after birth, then women could also partake in it. Such or similar customs are also prevalent among us, for example, the “Bibi Sahiba ki Sahanak,” which only married women can eat; men and widows cannot. All these are matters of disbelief and polytheism.
