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
وَأَوْحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلنَّحْلِ أَنِ ٱتَّخِذِى مِنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ
And your Lord inspired to the bee, "Take for yourself among the mountains, houses [i.e., hives], and among the trees and [in] that which they construct.
وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَالَكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍ لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ بَـٰلِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ ٱلْأَنفُسِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And they carry your loads to a land you could not have reached except with difficulty to yourselves. Indeed, your Lord is Kind and Merciful.
يُنۢبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ ٱلزَّرْعَ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلنَّخِيلَ وَٱلْأَعْنَـٰبَ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
He causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and of all the fruits. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.
وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا جَمَالٌ حِينَ تُرِيحُونَ وَحِينَ تَسْرَحُونَ
And for you in them is [the enjoyment of] beauty when you bring them in [for the evening] and when you send them out [to pasture].