سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ
Surah Al-An'aam (6) — Ayah 38
وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَـٰٓئِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ ﴿38﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
There is not a moving (living) creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
مِن
min
[of]
دَآبَّةٍۢ
dābbatin
any animal
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
وَلَا
walā
and not
طَـٰٓئِرٍۢ
ṭāirin
a bird
يَطِيرُ
yaṭīru
(that) flies
بِجَنَاحَيْهِ
bijanāḥayhi
with its wings
إِلَّآ
illā
but
أُمَمٌ
umamun
(are) communities
أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ
amthālukum
like you
مَّا
mā
Not
فَرَّطْنَا
farraṭnā
We have neglected
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ
l-kitābi
the Book
مِن
min
[of]
شَىْءٍۢ ۚ
shayin
anything
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
رَبِّهِمْ
rabbihim
their Lord
يُحْشَرُونَ
yuḥ'sharūna
they will be gathered
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.
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]
[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]
