And they say, "These animals349 and crops are forbidden; no one may eat from them except whom we will," by their claim. And there are those [camels] whose backs are forbidden [by them]350 and those upon which the name of Allāh is not mentioned351 - [all of this] an invention of untruth about Him.352 He will punish them for what they were inventing.
Notes
[349] The four categories of grazing livestock called "anʿām" collectively.
[350] See 5:103.
[351] At the time of slaughter. Rather, they are dedicated to others among their "deities."
[352] i.e., false assertions that such practices are part of Allāh's religion.
Verse 138 of Surah Al-An’am (6:138), a Meccan surah, is in juz 8, on page 146 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 74 reciters.
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Tafsir of verse 138
Al-Mukhtasar
The idolaters said that certain animals and crops were banned, and only those whom they wish may eat of them, such as those who worship the idols and others, according to their claim and fabrication. They also said that the backs of certain animals were forbidden and that no one could ride or carry a load on those animals. Then they claimed that the name of Allah must not be mentioned over certain animals at the time of slaughter and the names of idols must be taken instead. They falsely attributed all of this to Allah. Allah will repay them with His punishment because of what they made up about Him.
They say, “These livestock and crops are reserved, none may eat them except those46 whom we wish,” – as they claim – and there are livestock whose backs are forbidden [from labor]47, and livestock over whom they do not mention the name of Allah [while slaughtering] – fabricating lies against Him48. He will punish them for their lies.
Notes
[46] i.e., the servants of idols and others.
[47] The four categories of grazing livestock were dedicated to their idols and false deities, and they were forbidden from riding and labor. See 5:103.
[48] i.e., false claims that these practices are part of Allah’s religion.
And according to their claim, they say that such and such cattle and crops are forbidden, and none should eat of them except those whom we allow. And (they say) there are cattle forbidden to be used for burden (or any other work), and cattle on which (at slaughtering) the Name of Allâh is not pronounced; lying against Him (Allâh). He will recompense them for what they used to fabricate.
And they say: Such cattle and crops are forbidden. No-one is to eat of them save whom we will - in their make-believe - cattle whose backs are forbidden, cattle over which they mention not the name of Allah. (All that is) a lie against Him. He will repay them for that which they invent.
And they say that such and such cattle and crops are taboo, and none should eat of them except those whom - so they say - We wish; further, there are cattle forbidden to yoke or burden, and cattle on which, (at slaughter), the name of Allah is not pronounced; - inventions against Allah's name: soon will He requite them for their inventions.
And they say: These are cattle and tilth prohibited, none shall eat them except such as We please-- so they assert-- and cattle whose backs are forbidden, and cattle on which they would not mention Allah's name-- forging a lie against Him; He shall requite them for what they forged.
And they have said, "These are cattle (Arabic 'ancam includes cattle, camels, sheep and goats) and tillage sacrosanct; none shall feed on them except whom we decide, " according to their assertion, and cattle whose backs have been prohibited, and cattle over which they do not mention The Name of Allah, fabricating (lies) against (Him). He will soon recompense them for whatever they were fabricating.
Say, "Have you seen what Allāh has sent down to you of provision of which you have made [some] lawful and [some] unlawful?" Say, "Has Allāh permitted you [to do so], or do you invent [something] about Allāh?"
Allāh has not appointed [such innovations as] baḥīrah or sā’ibah or waṣīlah or ḥām. But those who disbelieve invent falsehood about Allāh, and most of them do not reason.
