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
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِٱلنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَىٰٓ أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And it is He who takes your souls by night and knows what you have committed by day. Then He revives you therein [i.e., by day] that a specified term may be fulfilled. Then to Him will be your return; then He will inform you about what you used to do.
وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَـٰتٌ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا۟ ۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
And for all are degrees [i.e., positions resulting] from what they have done. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.
ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ يَهْدِى بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۚ وَلَوْ أَشْرَكُوا۟ لَحَبِطَ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
That is the guidance of Allāh by which He guides whomever He wills of His servants. But if they had associated others with Allāh, then worthless for them would be whatever they were doing.
لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُۥ ۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims."