16. Sura al-Nahl
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَالأَنْعَامَ
خَلَقَهَا
لَكُمْ ...
16: 5. And cattle He has created for you (men):
C2023. Why will you go back to material things, considering that material things are made subservient to your use and enjoyment in various ways as suggested in the clauses that follow.
... فِيهَا دِفْءٌ وَمَنَافِعُ...
from them ye derive warmth, and numerous benefits,
C2024. From wool, and hair, and skins, and milk.
Camel's hair makes warm robes and blankets; and certain kinds of goats yield hair which makes similar fabrics.
Sheep yield wool, and Ilamas alpaca for similar uses. The skins and furs of many animals yield warm raiment or make warm rugs or bedding.
The females of many of these animals yield good warm milk, a nourishing and wholesome diet. Then the flesh of many of these animals is good to eat.
There are other uses, which the animals serve, and which are referred to later.
... وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ ﴿٥﴾
and of their (meat) ye eat.
وَلَكُمْ
فِيهَا جَمَالٌ
حِينَ تُرِيحُونَ
وَحِينَ تَسْرَحُونَ ﴿٦﴾
16: 6. And ye have a sense of pride and beauty in them as ye drive them home in the evening, and as ye lead them forth to pasture in the morning.
C2025. The good man is proud of his cattle and is good to them. As they go to, and return from, pasture, morning and evening, he has a sense of his power and wealth and their beauty and docility.
Will not man turn from these material facts to the great spiritual truths and purpose behind them?
وَتَحْمِلُ
أَثْقَالَكُمْ
إِلَى بَلَدٍ
لَّمْ تَكُونُواْ
بَالِغِيهِ
إِلاَّ بِشِقِّ
الأَنفُسِ...
16: 7. And they carry your heavy loads to lands that ye could not (otherwise) reach except with souls distressed:
C2026. The cattle and animals also carry loads, and thus make inter-communication between different lands easy. But for them there would have been many difficulties, not only physical, but psychological.
Weary men carrying loads are in no mood for social and spiritual intercourse. This intercourse is made possible by the kindness and mercy of Allah.
... إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٧﴾
for your Lord is indeed Most Kind, Most Merciful.
وَالْخَيْلَ
وَالْبِغَالَ
وَالْحَمِيرَ
لِتَرْكَبُوهَا
وَزِينَةً...
16: 8. And (He has created) horses, mules, and donkeys, for you to ride and use for show;
C2027. Horse, mules, and donkeys as well as other animals may be beasts of burden, but they may also be pedigree animals bred for beauty and for all those more refined uses, such as processions, in which grace and elegance is the predominant feature.
... وَيَخْلُقُ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٨﴾
and He has created (other) things of what ye have no knowledge.
C2028. If we examine the history of transport, there have been vast changes through the ages, from rude pack animals to fine equipages, and then through mechanical contrivances, such means of transport as elegant coaches, tramways and railways, useful motor lorries and Rolls-Royce cars, and air-ships and aeroplanes of all descriptions.
At any given point of time, many of these were yet unknown to man. Nor can we suppose the limit to have been reached now or that it will ever be reached at any future time.
Through the mind and ingenuity of man it is Allah that creates new things hitherto unknown to man.
وَعَلَى
اللّهِ قَصْدُ
السَّبِيلِ
وَمِنْهَا
جَآئِرٌ...
16: 9. And unto Allah leads straight the Way, but there are ways that turn aside:
C2029. Through material things "the Way" does always lead to Allah. But some minds are so obsessed with material things that they miss the pointers to the spiritual.
Allah could have forced all to the true Way, but in His Will and Plan is the training of man's will, and that is done by the Signs in nature and Revelation.
... وَلَوْ شَاء لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٩﴾
if Allah had willed, He could have guided all of you.
16: 5
Asad And He creates cattle: you derive warmth from them, and [various other] uses; and from them you obtain food;
Pickthall And the cattle hath He created, whence ye have warm clothing and uses, and whereof ye eat.
Transliteration Wal an'a_ma khalaqaha_ lakum fiha_ dif'uw wa mana_fi'u wa minha_ ta'kulu_n(a).
16:Ayah 6
Pickthall And wherein is beauty for you, when ye bring them home, and when ye take them out to pasture.
Transliteration Wa lakum fiha_ jama_lun hina turihu_na wa hina tasrahu_n(a),
16: Ayah 7
Pickthall And they bear your loads for you unto a land ye could not reach save with great trouble to yourselves. Lo! your Lord is Full of Pity, Merciful.
Transliteration Wa tahmilu asqa_lakum ila_ baladil lam taku_nu_ ba_ligihi illaa_ bi syiqqil anfus(i), inna rabbakum la ra'u_fur rahim(uw),
16: 8
Asad And [it is He who creates] horses and mules and assets for you to ride, as well as for beauty: and He will yet create things of which [today] you have no knowledge.
Yusuf Ali And (He has created) horses mules and donkeys for you to ride and use for show; and He has created (other) things of what ye have no knowledge.
Pickthall And horses and mules and asses (hath He created) that ye may ride them, and for ornament. And He createth that which ye know not.
Transliteration Wal khaila wal biga_la wal hamira litarkabu_ha_ wa zinah(tan), wa yakhluqu ma_ la_ ta'lamu_n(a).
[Asad note 6: The use, in this context, of the aorist yakhluqu implies the future tense [“He will create”] in contrast with the past tense khalaqa ………]
16: 9
Asad And it rests with God alone to show you the right path: yet there is who swerves from it. However, had He so willed, He would have guided you all aright.
Pickthall And Allah's is the direction of the way, and some (roads) go not straight. And had He willed He would have led you all aright.
Transliteration Wa 'alalla_hi qasdus sabili wa minha_ ja_'ir(un), wa lau sya_'a lahada_kum ajma'in(a).