لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَـٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 37
Translations
Their meat will not reach Allāh, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allāh for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good.
Transliteration
Lan yanālu allāha luhūmuhā wa lā dimāʾuhā wa lākin yanāluhu al-taqwā minkum. Kadhālika sakhkharaha lakum li tukabirru allāha ʿalā mā hadākum. Wa bashshir al-muhsinīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah clarifies that the flesh and blood of sacrificial animals do not reach Allah (as He has no need for material offerings), but rather what reaches Him is the taqwā (God-consciousness and piety) of those who sacrifice. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Allah has subjugated these animals for humanity so that they may glorify Him and remember His guidance, making the sacrifice an act of obedience rooted in sincere intention rather than the physical offering itself. The ayah concludes with glad tidings for the muhsinīn (those who do good with excellent character and intention).
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of explaining the spiritual significance of Hajj and qurbānī (animal sacrifice) during the Hajj pilgrimage. It addresses a common misunderstanding among both pre-Islamic Arabs and some early Muslims who believed the material value of the sacrifice itself was what mattered to Allah, redirecting focus to the internal spiritual state and sincere devotion of the worshipper.
Related Hadiths
Abi Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'No meat reaches Allah, nor blood, but your piety reaches Him' (Sahih Bukhari 5553). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized that sincerity of intention is paramount in all deeds, as recorded in Sahih Muslim.
Themes
Key Lesson
True worship is not measured by external rituals or material offerings, but by the sincerity of the heart and one's level of God-consciousness (taqwā). Muslims should remember that all acts of worship, including sacrifice, are opportunities to strengthen their relationship with Allah and demonstrate obedience, with the genuine intention to please Him being the most valuable offering.