Surah Al-An’am Ayat 143 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 143
[They are] eight mates – of the sheep, two and of the goats, two. Say, “Is it the two males He has forbidden or the two females or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Inform me with knowledge, if you should be truthful.”
(Take) eight (head of cattle) in (four) pairs: of sheep a pair, and of goats a pair; say, hath He forbidden the two males, or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? Tell me with knowledge if ye are truthful:
These are eight couples, two of sheep, two of goats. Now ask them: ‘Is it either the two males that Allah has forbidden or the two females, or what the wombs of the two females may contain? Tell me about this on the basis of sure knowledge, if you speak the truth.’
Eight pairs; of the sheep two (male and female), and of the goats two (male and female). Say: “Has He forbidden the two males or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful.”
Eight pairs: Of the sheep twain, and of the goats twain. Say: Hath He forbidden the two males or the two females, or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Expound to me (the case) with knowledge, if ye are truthful.
Eight pairs: (i.e., eight males and females paired together) of mutton two, (i.e., sheep) and of goats two. Say, “Has He prohibited the two males or even the two females? Or even what the wombs of the two females contain? Fully inform me with knowledge, in case you are sincere.”
[God gave you] eight animals, in [four] pairs: a pair of sheep and a pair of goats- ask them [Prophet], ‘Has He forbidden the two males, the two females, or the young in the wombs of the two females? Tell me based on knowledge if you are telling the truth.’
(پیدا کیے) آٹھ نر و ماده یعنی بھیڑ میں دو قسم اور بکری میں دو قسم آپ کہیے کہ کیا اللہ نے ان دونوں نروں کو حرام کیا ہے یا دونوں ماده کو؟ یا اس کو جس کو دونوں ماده پیٹ میں لئے ہوئے ہوں؟ تم مجھ کو کسی دلیل سے تو بتاؤ اگر سچے ہو
Quran 6 Verse 143 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Al-An’am ayat 143, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(6:143) These are eight couples, two of sheep, two of goats. Now ask them: Is it either the two males that Allah has forbidden or the two females, or what the wombs of the two females may contain? Tell me about this on the basis of sure knowledge, if you speak the truth.’[119]
119. That is, they should come forward with arguments based on sound, reliable knowledge, rather than with arguments which have no authority except that of ancestral tradition, conjecture or superstition.
Ibn-Kathir
143. Eight pairs: of the sheep two (male and female), and of the goats two (male and female). Say: “Has He forbidden the two males or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful. ” 144. And of the camels two, and of oxen two. Say: “Has He forbidden the two males or the two females or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose Or were you present when Allah ordered you such a thing Then who does more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah, to lead mankind astray without knowledge. Certainly Allah guides not the people who are wrongdoers.”
They used to prohibit the usage of some of their cattle and designate them as Bahirah, Sa’ibah, Wasilah and Ham etc. These were some of the innovations they invented for cattle, fruits and produce. Allah stated that He has created gardens, trellised and untrellised, and cattle, as animals of burden and as Farsh. Allah next mentioned various kinds of cattle, male and female, such as sheep and goats. He also created male and female camels and the same with cows. Allah did not prohibit any of these cattle or their offspring. Rather, they all were created for the sons of Adam as a source for food, transportation, work, milk, and other benefits, which are many. Allah said,
(And He has sent down for you of cattle eight pairs…) ﴿39:6﴾ Allah said;
(…or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose…) This refutes the idolators’ statement,
(What is in the bellies of such and such cattle is for our males alone, and forbidden to our females.) ﴿6:139﴾ Allah said,
(Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful.) meaning, tell me with sure knowledge, how and when did Allah prohibit what you claimed is prohibited, such as the Bahirah, Sa’ibah, Wasilah and Ham etc. Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said, “Allah’s statement,
(Eight pairs: of the sheep two, and of the goats two…) these are four pairs,
(Say: “Has He forbidden the two males or the two females…”) I (Allah) did not prohibit any of these.
(or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose) and does the womb produce but males and females So why do you prohibit some and allow some others
(Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful. ) Allah is saying that all of this is allowed.” Allah said,
(Or, were you present when Allah ordered you such a thing) mocking the idolators’ innovations, and their lies that Allah made sacred what they have prohibited.
(Then who does more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah, to lead mankind astray without knowledge.) Therefore, no one is more unjust than the people described here and
(Certainly, Allah guides not the people who are wrongdoers.) The person most worthy of this condemnation is `Amr bin Luhay bin Qum`ah. He was the first person to change the religion of the Prophets and designate the Sa’ibah, Wasilah and Ham, as mentioned in the Sahih.
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