ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمَ لِتَرْكَبُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ 79
Translations
It is Allāh who made for you the grazing animals upon which you ride, and some of them you eat.
Transliteration
Allahu alladhi ja'ala lakumu al-an'ama litarkabuu minha wa minha ta'kulun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah is the One who created livestock (an'am) for humanity with dual purposes: for riding/transportation and for sustenance through eating. This ayah emphasizes divine providence and the multiplicity of blessings in a single creation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this demonstrates Allah's wisdom in providing creatures that serve both practical and nutritional needs, highlighting the perfection of divine creation and care for human welfare.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ghafir, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes monotheism and Allah's lordship over creation. The surah focuses on divine signs (ayat) in creation as evidence of Allah's uniqueness. This particular verse falls within a passage enumerating the blessings Allah has bestowed on humanity, reinforcing the theme of gratitude and recognition of divine favors.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'Whoever is kind to the creatures of God is kind to himself' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the hadith regarding the prohibition of excessive slaughter and animal mistreatment reflects the Islamic ethic of honoring these divine blessings (Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should recognize and be grateful for the multifaceted blessings Allah has provided in creation, understanding that every provision serves divine wisdom. This awareness cultivates both gratitude to Allah and responsible stewardship of the creatures entrusted to human care.
Related Ayahs
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوٓا۟ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً وَءَاثَارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَمَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than themselves and greater in strength and in impression on the land, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.
فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَـٰنُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا۟ بَأْسَنَا ۖ سُنَّتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
But never did their faith benefit them once they saw Our punishment. [It is] the established way of Allāh which has preceded among His servants. And the disbelievers thereupon lost [all].
ٱدْخُلُوٓا۟ أَبْوَٰبَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ
Enter the gates of Hell to abide eternally therein, and wretched is the residence of the arrogant."
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَأَوْرَثْنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ
And We had certainly given Moses guidance, and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit the Scripture