Sura 6, al-Anam, Mecca 55

The Quranic text and Ali’s version


وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلاَّ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ...

6:38. There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you.

...مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ ...

Nothing have We omitted from the Book,

... ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾

and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.

Transliteration Wa ma_ min da_bbatin fil ardi wa la_ ta_'iriy yatiru bi jana_haihi illa_ umamun amsa_lukum, ma_ farratna_ fil kita_bi min syai'in summa ila_ rabbihim yuhsyaru_n(a



6: 38

Asad although there is no beast that walks on earth and no bird that flies on its two wings which is not [God’s] creature [note 30] like yourselves: no single thing have We neglected in Our decree. And once again [note 31]: Unto their Sustainer shall they [all] be gathered.



Pickthall There is not an animal in the earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are peoples like unto you. We have neglected nothing in the Book (of Our decrees). Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.



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[ Ali’s note - C859. "Animals living on the earth" include those living in the water-fishes, reptiles, crustaceans, insects, as well as four-footed beasts. Life on the wing is separately mentioned.

"Tair," which is ordinarily translated as "bird," is anything that flies, including mammals like bats.

In our pride we may exclude animals from our purview, but they live a life, social ad individual, like ourselves, and all life is subject to the Plan and Will of Allah.

In 6:59 we are told that not a leaf falls but by His Will, and things dry and green are recorded in His Book. In other words they all obey His archetypal Plan, the Book which is also mentioned here.

They are all answerable in their several degrees to His Plan ("shall be gathered to their Lord in the end"). This is not Pantheism: it is ascribing all life, activity, and existence to the Will and Plan of Allah.]