وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ حَمُولَةً وَفَرْشًا ۚ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ 142
Translations
And of the grazing livestock are carriers [of burdens] and those [too] small. Eat of what Allāh has provided for you and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
Transliteration
Wa min al-an'ami hamulatan wa farshan. Kulu mimma razaqakumu Allah wa la tattabi'u khutuati ash-shaytani. Innahu lakum 'aduwwun mubin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands believers to consume from the livestock (camels, cattle, sheep, goats) that Allah has provided as sustenance, distinguishing between hamulah (beasts of burden used for carrying heavy loads) and farsh (smaller animals used for riding or breeding). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this verse encourages the lawful enjoyment of Allah's provisions while warning against following Shaytan's whispers regarding forbidden foods and practices, emphasizing that Shaytan is an open and manifest enemy who seeks to lead humanity astray through deception about what is permissible.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-An'am, a Meccan chapter that comprehensively discusses monotheism and the signs of Allah's creation. It follows verses about livestock as signs of Allah's power and precedes regulations about permissible and forbidden foods, serving to clarify the balance between enjoying Allah's provisions and adhering to His divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of your provisions are the offspring of your camels' (Sunan Abu Dawud). Additionally, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet said: 'Eating the meat of livestock is a blessing from Allah' (Tirmidhi - thematically related).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to enjoy the blessings Allah has provided while remaining vigilant against Shaytan's temptations to consume the forbidden or transgress divine boundaries. It reminds us that true gratitude lies in using Allah's gifts according to His guidance, not according to our desires or societal pressures.
Related Ayahs
وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطِى مُسْتَقِيمًا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.
قُل لَّوْ أَنَّ عِندِى مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِۦ لَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Say, "If I had that for which you are impatient, the matter would have been decided between me and you, but Allāh is most knowing of the wrongdoers."
وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ مَلَكًا لَّجَعَلْنَـٰهُ رَجُلًا وَلَلَبَسْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّا يَلْبِسُونَ
And if We had made him [i.e., the messenger] an angel, We would have made him [appear as] a man, and We would have covered them with that in which they cover themselves [i.e., confusion and doubt].
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَعْرِفُونَهُۥ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَآءَهُمُ ۘ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Those to whom We have given the Scripture recognize it as they recognize their [own] sons. Those who will lose themselves [in the Hereafter] do not believe.