16. Sura al-Nahl, Mecca 70
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَالأَنْعَامَ
خَلَقَهَا
لَكُمْ ...
16: 5. And cattle He has created for you (men):
... فِيهَا دِفْءٌ وَمَنَافِعُ...
from them ye derive warmth, and numerous benefits,
... وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ ﴿٥﴾
and of their (meat) ye eat.
Transliteration Wal an'a_ma khalaqaha_ lakum fiha_ dif'uw wa mana_fi'u wa minha_ ta'kulu_n(a).
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.
وَتَحْمِلُ
أَثْقَالَكُمْ
إِلَى بَلَدٍ
لَّمْ تَكُونُواْ
بَالِغِيهِ
إِلاَّ بِشِقِّ
الأَنفُسِ...
Transliteration Wa lakum fiha_ jama_lun hina turihu_na wa hina tasrahu_n(a),
16: 7. And they carry your heavy loads to lands that ye could not (otherwise) reach except with souls distressed:
... إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٧﴾
for your Lord is indeed Most Kind, Most 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: 5
Pickthall And the cattle hath He created, whence ye have warm clothing and uses, and whereof ye eat.
16: 6
Pickthall And wherein is beauty for you, when ye bring them home, and when ye take them out to pasture.
16: 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.
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Ali’s comments:
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.
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.
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?
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.