40. Sura Ghafir (Forgiving)/al mumin

Mecca 60 [85 verses]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

اللَّهُ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَنْعَامَ لِتَرْكَبُوا مِنْهَا وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ ﴿٧٩﴾

40: 79. It is Allah Who made cattle for you, that ye may use some for riding and some for food;

C4456. Cf. 16:5-8.

The fact that beasts, which in their wild state are so noxious, are, when domesticated, so useful to man, is itself one of the great and standing Signs of Allah's care for man.

The great usefulness of cattle is very instructive. They serve for riding, and many of them for food; further, they are used for the plough, and they produce milk, or wool, or hair; and from their carcasses man derives bones and horns for many industrial uses; but passing on to higher aspects of life, they further social, moral, and spiritual uses as drought-animals, in that transport serves one of the fundamental purposes of civilisation, being in this respect like ships for international commerce: 30:46, and n. 3565.

It is by means of human intercourse through transport that we can carry out the highest needs of our culture, "any need there may be in our hearts", i.e., in our inner being.

وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ وَلِتَبْلُغُوا عَلَيْهَا حَاجَةً فِي صُدُورِكُمْ...

40: 80. And there are (other) advantages in them for you (besides);

that ye may through them attain to any need (there may be) in your hearts;

... وَعَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى الْفُلْكِ تُحْمَلُونَ ﴿٨٠﴾

and on them and on ships ye are carried.

وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ...

40: 81. And He shows you always His Signs;

C4457. The Signs of Allah's goodness and mercy are so numerous that it is impossible to enumerate them. Which of them can any mortal deny?

This is the theme of that highly poetical Surah Rahman (55).

... فَأَيَّ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ تُنكِرُونَ ﴿٨١﴾

then which of the Signs of Allah will ye deny?

Asad’s Version:

40:79 It is God who [at all times works wonders for you: 61 thus, He] provides for you [all manner of] livestock, so that on some of them you may ride, and from some derive your food,

(40:80) and find [yet other] benefits in them; 62 and that through them you may attain to the fulfilment of [many] a heartfelt need: 65 for on them, as on ships, you are borne [through life].

40:81 And [thus] He displays His wonders before you: which, then, of God's wonders can you still deny?

Yuksel’s Version:

40:79 God is the One who made the livestock for you that you may ride on some of them, and some of them you eat.

40:80 You have other benefits in them. That you may reach by them what is desired in your chests. On them and on the ships, you are carried.

40:81 He shows you His signs. So which of God's signs do you deny?