6. [al-Anam, Cattle, Mecca 55]
Shirk and Superstition
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَجَعَلُواْ
لِلّهِ
مِمِّا
ذَرَأَ
مِنَ
الْحَرْثِ
وَالأَنْعَامِ
نَصِيبًا...
6: 136. Out of what Allah hath produced in abundance in tilth and in cattle, they assigned Him a share:
...فَقَالُواْ هَـذَا لِلّهِ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَهَـذَا لِشُرَكَآئِنَا...
they say, according to their fancies: "This is for Allah, and this for our 'partners'"!
C958. There is scathing sarcasm here, which some of the Commentators have missed.
The Pagans have generally a big Pantheon, though above it they have a vague idea of a Supreme God. But the material benefits go to the godlings, the fancied "partners" of Allah; for they have temples, priests, dedications, etc., while the true and supreme God has only lip-worship, or at best a share with numerous "partners". This was so in Arabia also.
The shares assigned to the "partners", went to the priests and hangers-on of the "partners", who were many and clamorous for their rights. The share assigned to Allah went to the poor, but more probably went to the priests who had the cult of the "partners", for the Supreme God had no separate priests of His own.
It is also said that when heaps were thus laid out, if any portion of Allah's heap fell into the heaps of the "partners", the priests greedily and promptly appropriated it, while in the contrary case, the "partners" priests were careful to reclaim any portion from what they called "Allah's heap".
The absurdity of the whole thing is ridiculed. Allah created everything: how can He have a share?
...فَمَا كَانَ لِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ فَلاَ يَصِلُ إِلَى اللّهِ...
But the share of their 'partners' reacheth not Allah,
...وَمَا كَانَ لِلّهِ فَهُوَ يَصِلُ إِلَى شُرَكَآئِهِمْ ...
whilst the share of Allah reacheth their 'partners'!
...سَاء مَا يَحْكُمُونَ ﴿١٣٦﴾
Evil (and unjust) is their assignment!
وَكَذَلِكَ
زَيَّنَ
لِكَثِيرٍ
مِّنَ
الْمُشْرِكِينَ
قَتْلَ
أَوْلاَدِهِمْ
شُرَكَآؤُهُمْ...
6: 137. Even so, in the eyes of most of the Pagans, their 'partners' made alluring the slaughter of their children,
C959. The false gods and idols -among many nations, including the Arabs- were supposed to require human sacrifices. Ordinarily such sacrifices are revolting to man, but they are made "alluring" -a sacred rite- by Pagan custom, which falsely arrogates to itself the name of religion.
Such customs, if allowed, would do nothing but destroy the people who practice them, and make their religion but a confused bundle of revolting superstitions.
...لِيُرْدُوهُمْ وَلِيَلْبِسُواْ عَلَيْهِمْ دِينَهُمْ ...
in order to lead them to their own destruction, and cause confusion in their religion.
...وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ مَا فَعَلُوهُ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ ﴿١٣٧﴾
If Allah had willed, they would not have done so:
but leave alone them and their inventions.
وَقَالُواْ
هَـذِهِ
أَنْعَامٌ
وَحَرْثٌ
حِجْرٌ
لاَّ
يَطْعَمُهَا
إِلاَّ
مَن
نّشَاء
بِزَعْمِهِمْ...
6: 138. And they say that such and such cattle and crops are taboo, and none should eat of them except those whom -- so they say -- We wish;
C960. A taboo of certain foods is sometimes a device of the priesthood to get special things for itself. It has to be enforced by pretending that the prohibition for others is by the Will of Allah.
It is a lie or invention against Allah. Most superstitions are.
...وَأَنْعَامٌ حُرِّمَتْ ظُهُورُهَا ...
further, there are cattle forbidden to yoke or burden,
C961. Cattle dedicated to heathen gods may be reserved from all useful work; in that case they are a dead loss to the community, and they may, besides, do a great deal of damage to fields and crops.
... وَأَنْعَامٌ لاَّ يَذْكُرُونَ اسْمَ اللّهِ عَلَيْهَا افْتِرَاء عَلَيْهِ...
and cattle on which (at slaughter), the name of Allah is not pronounced;
inventions against Allah's name:
C962. If meat is killed in the name of heathen gods, it would naturally not be killed by the solemn rite in Allah's name, by which alone the killing can be justified for food.
See 698 to 5:4.
...سَيَجْزِيهِم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفْتَرُونَ ﴿١٣٨﴾
soon will He requite them for their inventions.
وَقَالُواْ
مَا
فِي
بُطُونِ
هَـذِهِ
الأَنْعَامِ
خَالِصَةٌ
لِّذُكُورِنَا
وَمُحَرَّمٌ
عَلَى
أَزْوَاجِنَا...
6: 139. They say:
"What is in the wombs of such and such cattle is specially reserved (for food) for our men, and forbidden to our women;
...وَإِن يَكُن مَّيْتَةً فَهُمْ فِيهِ شُرَكَاء...
but if it is still-born then all have shares therein.
C963. These are further Pagan superstitions about cattle. Some have already been noted in 6:136, which may be consulted with the notes.
...سَيَجْزِيهِمْ وَصْفَهُمْ إِنَّهُ حِكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿١٣٩﴾
For their (false) attribution (of superstitions to Allah): He will soon punish them:
for He is full of Wisdom and Knowledge.
قَدْ
خَسِرَ
الَّذِينَ
قَتَلُواْ
أَوْلاَدَهُمْ
سَفَهًا
بِغَيْرِ
عِلْمٍ...
6: 140. Lost are those who slay their children, from folly, without knowledge,
...وَحَرَّمُواْ مَا رَزَقَهُمُ اللّهُ افْتِرَاء عَلَى اللّهِ...
and forbid food which Allah hath provided for them, inventing (lies) against Allah.
...قَدْ ضَلُّواْ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهْتَدِينَ ﴿١٤٠﴾
They have indeed gone astray and heeded no guidance.
Pickthall’s Version:
6: 136
Pickthall They assign unto Allah, of the crops and cattle which He created, a portion, and they say: "This is Allah's" in their make believe "and this is for (His) partners in regard to us." Thus that which (they assign) unto His partners in them reach not Allah and that which (they assign) unto Allah go to their (so-called) partners. Evil is their ordinance.
Transliteration Wa ja'alu_ lilla_hi mimma_ zara'a minal harsi wal an'a_mi nasiban fa qa_lu_ ha_za_ lilla_hi bi za'mihim wa ha_za_ li syuraka_'ina_, fama_ ka_na li syuraka_'ihim fala_ yasilu ilalla_h(i), wa ma_ ka_na lilla_hi fa huwa yasilu ila_ syuraka_'ihim, sa_'a ma_ yahkumu_n(a).
6: 137
Pickthall Thus have their (so-called) partners (of Allah) made the killing of their children to seem fair unto many of the idolaters, that they may ruin them and make their faith obscure for them. Had Allah willed (it otherwise), they had not done so. So leave them alone with their devices.
Transliteration Wa kaza_lika zayyana li kasirim minal musyrikina qatla aula_dihim syuraka_'uhum liyurdu_hum wa liyalbisu_ 'alaihim dinahum, wa lau sya_'alla_hu ma_ fa'alu_hu fa zarhum wa ma_ yaftaru_n(a).
6: 138
Pickthall And they say: Such cattle and crops are forbidden. No one is to eat of them save whom We will--in their make believe--cattle whose backs are forbidden, cattle over which they mention not the name of Allah. (All that is) a lie against Him. He will repay them for that which they invent.
Transliteration Wa qa_lu_ ha_zihi an'a_muw wa harsun hijrul la_ yat'amuha_ illa_ man nasya_'u bi za'mihim wa an'a_mun hurrimat zuhu_ruhu_ wa an'a_mul la_ yazkuru_nasmalla_hi'alaihaftira_'an 'alaih(i), sayajzihim bima_ ka_nu_ yaftaru_n(a).
6: 139
Pickthall And they say: That which is in the bellies of such cattle is reserved for our males and is forbidden to our wives; but if it be born dead, then they (all) may be partakers thereof. He will reward them for their attribution (ordinances unto Him). Lo, He is Wise, Aware.
Transliteration Wa qa_lu_ ma_ fi butu_ni ha_zihil an'a_mi kha_lisatul li zuku_rina_ wa muharramun'ala_ azwa_jina_, wa iy yakum maitatan fahum fihi syuraka_'(u), sayajzihim wasfahum, innahu_ hakimun 'alim(un).
6: 140
Pickthall They are losers who besottedly have slain their children without knowledge, and have forbidden that which Allah bestowed upon them, inventing a lie against Allah. They indeed have gone astray and are not guided.
Transliteration Qad khasiral lazina qatalu_ aula_dahum safaham bi gairi 'ilmiw wa harramu_ ma_ razaqahumulla_huftira_'an'alalla_h(i), qad dallu_ wa ma_ ka_nu_ muhtadin(a).
[[ Ali’s notes - 958 There is scathing sarcasm here, which some of the Commentators have missed. The Pagans have generally a big Pantheon, though above it they have a vague idea of a Supreme God. But the material benefits go to the godlings, the fancied "partners" of God; for they have temples, priests, dedications, etc., while the true and supreme God has only lip-worship, or at best a share with numerous "partners". This was so in Arabia also. The shares assigned to the "partners", went to the priests and hangers-on of the "partners", who were many and clamorous for their rights. The share assigned to God went to the poor, but more probably went to the priests who had the cult of the "partners", for the Supreme God had no separate priests of His own. It is also said that when heaps were thus laid out, if any portion of God's heap fell into the heaps of the "partners", the priests greedily and promptly appropriated it, while in the contrary case, the "partners" priests were careful to reclaim any portion from what they called "God's heap". The absurdity of the whole thing is ridiculed . God created everything: how can He have a share? (6.136)
959 The false gods and idols -among many nations, including the Arabs -were supposed to require human sacrifices. Ordinarily such sacrifices are revolting to man, but they are made "alluring" -a sacred rite- by Pagan custom, which falsely arrogates to itself the name of religion. Such customs, if allowed, would do nothing but destroy the people who practise them, and make thier religion but a confused bundle of revolting superstitions. (6.137)
960 A taboo of certain foods is sometimes a device of the priesthood to get special things for itself. It has to be enforced by pretending that the prohibition for others is by the Will of God. It is a lie or invention against God. Most superstitions are. (6.138)
961 Cattle dedicated to heathen gods may be reserved from all useful work; in that case they are a dead loss to the community, and they may, besides, do a great deal of damage to fields and crops. (6.138)
962 If meat is killed in the name of heathen gods, it would naturally not be killed by the solemn rite in God's name, by which alone the killing can be justified for food. See n. 698 to v. 5. (6.138)
963 These are further Pagan superstitions about cattle. Some have already been noted in v. 106, which may be consulted with the notes. (6.139) ]]