وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ لَعِبْرَةً ۖ نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِى بُطُونِهِۦ مِنۢ بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَّبَنًا خَالِصًا سَآئِغًا لِّلشَّـٰرِبِينَ 66
Translations
And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies - between excretion and blood - pure milk, palatable to drinkers.
Transliteration
Wa inna lakum fil-an'ami la-'ibrah; nusqikum mimma fi butoonihi min bayna farth wa dam labanan khalisaan sa'ighan lil-sharibeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents milk production in livestock as a profound sign (ayah) of Allah's power and wisdom, highlighting the miraculous process by which pure, palatable milk is extracted from between feces and blood within the animal's body. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this as evidence of divine creation and sustenance, demonstrating Allah's ability to produce something pure and beneficial from seemingly impure components. The ayah invites reflection on the intricate biological processes that testify to the Creator's perfect design and generosity toward mankind.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nahl, revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islam. It appears in a section (16:5-8) discussing various benefits of livestock for humanity, serving as arguments for monotheism and recognition of Allah's blessings. The surah uses observable natural phenomena to guide the Meccan polytheists toward tawhid (belief in Allah's oneness).
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'Whoever drinks milk, let him drink more water after it, for milk's cooling property comes from water' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, various hadiths encourage consumption of milk as a blessed food, with the Prophet recommending it for strength and nourishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize the extraordinary in the ordinary—by reflecting on everyday blessings like milk, we develop gratitude and awareness of Allah's creative power. It encourages mindfulness of the intricate systems Allah has established for human benefit and reminds us that all provision ultimately comes from the Divine.
Related Ayahs
فَأَصَابَهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
So they were struck by the evil consequences of what they did and were enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
يَعْرِفُونَ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنكِرُونَهَا وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
They recognize the favor of Allāh; then they deny it. And most of them are disbelievers.
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةُ ۚ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allāh and avoid ṭāghūt." And among them were those whom Allāh guided, and among them were those upon whom error was [deservedly] decreed. So proceed [i.e., travel] through the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers.
وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا يُعَلِّمُهُۥ بَشَرٌ ۗ لِّسَانُ ٱلَّذِى يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِىٌّ وَهَـٰذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِىٌّ مُّبِينٌ
And We certainly know that they say, "It is only a human being who teaches him [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ)]." The tongue of the one they refer to is foreign, and this [recitation, i.e., Qur’ān] is [in] a clear Arabic language.