وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَالَكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍ لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ بَـٰلِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ ٱلْأَنفُسِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ 7
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Wa tahmilu athqaalakum ila baladin lam takunu bi alighihi illa bi shiqqi al-anfus. Inna rabbakum la raûfun rahîm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to livestock (specifically beasts of burden like camels, horses, and donkeys) that carry heavy loads to distant lands that would otherwise be unreachable or extremely difficult for humans to traverse. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as Allah's mercy in providing these animals as a means of transport and commerce, reducing human hardship in travel. The ayah emphasizes that reaching such distant places would require extreme exertion ("shiqq al-nafs" - breaking one's soul) without these animals, yet Allah has made it easier through His compassion and mercy.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nahl (The Bee), a Meccan chapter that extensively details Allah's blessings and signs in creation. Specifically, verses 5-8 discuss various types of livestock and their benefits to humanity. The broader context addresses the countless favors animals provide—sustenance, clothing, transportation, and beauty—encouraging reflection on divine mercy and gratitude.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever is merciful, even to the creatures of the earth, Allah will be merciful to him on the Day of Judgment' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Quran emphasizes kind treatment of animals: 'A woman was punished because she imprisoned a cat until it died' (Sahih Bukhari), demonstrating the importance of caring for these creatures that Allah has provided.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize and appreciate the often-overlooked blessings Allah has placed in our daily lives, particularly in animals and resources that ease our burdens. It reminds us that Allah's mercy is manifest in practical ways, and should inspire gratitude, humility, and compassionate stewardship toward all creatures.
Related Ayahs
ثُمَّ قَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ٱبْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَـٰهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ رِضْوَٰنِ ٱللَّهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا ۖ فَـَٔاتَيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ
Then We sent following their footsteps [i.e., traditions] Our messengers and followed [them] with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy and monasticism, which they innovated; We did not prescribe it for them except [that they did so] seeking the approval of Allāh. But they did not observe it with due observance. So We gave the ones who believed among them their reward, but many of them are defiantly disobedient.
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَن يُرْسِلَ ٱلرِّيَاحَ مُبَشِّرَٰتٍ وَلِيُذِيقَكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَلِتَجْرِىَ ٱلْفُلْكُ بِأَمْرِهِۦ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And of His signs is that He sends the winds as bringers of good tidings and to let you taste His mercy [i.e., rain] and so the ships may sail at His command and so you may seek of His bounty, and perhaps you will be grateful.
نِّصْفَهُۥٓ أَوِ ٱنقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا
Half of it - or subtract from it a little
إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ ٱللَّهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ حَسَنَـٰتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allāh will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.