36. Surah Ya Sin

Mecca 41

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:


أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُمْ مِمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَا...   

36: 71.  See they not that it is We Who have created for them -- among the things which Our hands have fashioned --

... أَنْعَامًا فَهُمْ لَهَا مَالِكُونَ ﴿٧١﴾

cattle, which are under their dominion? --

C4018. If they are blind to other Signs of Allah, they can at least see the simple homely things of life in which they receive so many benefits from Allah's mercy. How is it that wild animals can be domesticated, and in domestication can be so useful to man?

Man can use them for riding or for drought; he can use their flesh for food and drink their milk; he can use their hair or wool.

Cf. 16:66,80: and 23:21-22.

وَذَلَّلْنَاهَا لَهُمْ فَمِنْهَا رَكُوبُهُمْ وَمِنْهَا يَأْكُلُونَ ﴿٧٢﴾

36: 72.  And that We have subjected [dhallalnaha] them to their (use)?

Of them some do carry them and some they eat:

وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ وَمَشَارِبُ... 

36: 73.  And they have (other) profits from them (besides), and they get (milk) to drink.

C4019. Such as skins for leather, furs for warmth, sheep's wool or camel's hair for blankets or textiles, musk for perfume, and so on.

... أَفَلَا يَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٧٣﴾

Will they not then be grateful?

C4020. The whole argument turns on this. 'Our teaching is for your own benefit. We confer all these blessings on you, and yet ye turn away from the Giver of all, and run after your own vain imaginations!

Asad’s Version:


36:71 Are they, then, not aware that it is for them that We have created, among all the things which Our hands have wrought," the domestic animals of which they are [now] masters? –

(36:72) and that We have subjected them to men's will, 42 so that some of them they may use for riding and of some they may eat,

(36:73) and may have [yet other] benefits from them, and [milk] to drink? Will they not, then, be grateful?



[[Asad’s note - 42 Lit., "made them submissive (dhallalnaha) to them": implying also that man is morally responsible for the manner in which he uses or misuses them. ]]