وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا ذُكِرَ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا مَا ٱضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا لَّيُضِلُّونَ بِأَهْوَآئِهِم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ 119
Translations
And why should you not eat of that upon which the name of Allāh has been mentioned while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled. And indeed do many lead [others] astray through their [own] inclinations without knowledge. Indeed, your Lord - He is most knowing of the transgressors.
Transliteration
Wa ma lakum alla ta'kulu mimma dhukira ismu Allahi alayhi wa qad fassala lakum ma harrama alayikum illa ma idturirtum ilayhi, wa inna kathiran layudillun bi-ahwa'ihim bighayri ilm, inna rabbaka huwa a'lamu bil-mu'tadin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes those who unnecessarily refrain from eating meat over which Allah's name has been invoked (halal meat), when Allah has already clearly specified what is forbidden except in cases of necessity. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this addresses those who followed pre-Islamic customs or were influenced by superstition and whim rather than divine knowledge. The ayah condemns blind following of desires without knowledge and affirms that Allah is fully aware of those who transgress His boundaries.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am, revealed in Mecca during the Prophet's struggle against polytheism and false beliefs. It addresses the pre-Islamic practice of prohibiting certain animals through superstitious practices (like dedicating animals to idols). The verse clarifies the Islamic stance on permissible food and rejects the pagan customs that had no basis in divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
In Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever takes an oath and then finds something else better than it, let him expiate for his oath and do what is better.' This relates to the principle that halal food blessed by Allah's name should not be rejected based on personal whims. Additionally, hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud addresses eating meat as part of the sunnah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should base their practices on divine knowledge and clear Islamic guidance rather than superstition, cultural habit, or personal preference. We must be cautious of those who mislead others through personal desires without scriptural foundation, and recognize that Allah is the ultimate judge of those who transgress His boundaries.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ إِنِّى عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى وَكَذَّبْتُم بِهِۦ ۚ مَا عِندِى مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ يَقُصُّ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْفَـٰصِلِينَ
Say, "Indeed, I am on clear evidence from my Lord, and you have denied it. I do not have that for which you are impatient. The decision is only for Allāh. He relates the truth, and He is the best of deciders."
وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَبْعُوثِينَ
And they say, "There is none but our worldly life, and we will not be resurrected."
وَهُوَ ٱلْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ
And He is the subjugator over His servants, and He sends over you guardian-angels until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers [i.e., angels of death] take him, and they do not fail [in their duties].
وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ لَئِن جَآءَتْهُمْ ءَايَةٌ لَّيُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهَا ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا يُشْعِرُكُمْ أَنَّهَآ إِذَا جَآءَتْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
And they swear by Allāh their strongest oaths that if a sign came to them, they would surely believe in it. Say, "The signs are only with [i.e., from] Allāh." And what will make you perceive that even if it [i.e., a sign] came, they would not believe.