6. Al-An'aam

This is because your Lord would not destroy the (populations of) towns for their wrongdoing while their people were unaware (131)For all there will be degrees according to what they did. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.) Allah sai (132)

ذَٰلِكَ أَن لَّمْ يَكُن رَّبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا غَافِلُونَ

(This is because your Lord would not destroy the (populations of) towns for their wrongdoing while their people were unaware.) meaning: 'We sent the Messengers and revealed the Books to the Jinns and mankind, so that no one has an excuse that he is being punished for his wrongs although he did not receive Allah's Message. Therefore, We did not punish any of the nations, except after sending Messengers to them, so that they have no excuse.' Allah said in other Ayat,

وَإِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ

(And there never was a nation but a warner had passed among them.)[35:24], and

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ

(And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah, and stay away from At-Taghut (all false deities).")[16:36], and

وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا

(And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger.)[17:15], and,

كُلَّمَا أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ - قَالُوا بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَاءَنَا نَذِيرٌ فَكَذَّبْنَا

(Every time a group is cast therein, its keeper will ask: "Did no warner come to you?" They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we belied him.")[67:8-9]

There are many other Ayat on this subject. At-Tabari said, "Allah's statement,

وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَاتٌ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا

(For all there will be degrees according to what they did.) means, every person who obeys Allah or behaves disobediently, has grades and ranks according to their works, which Allah gives them as recompense, good for good and evil for evil." I say, it is possible that Allah's statement,

وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَاتٌ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا

(For all there will be degrees according to what they did.) refers to the disbelievers of the Jinns and mankind who will earn a place in the Fire according to their evil deeds. Allah said,

قَالَ لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ

(He will say: "For each one there is double (torment).")[7:38], and,

الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ زِدْنَاهُمْ عَذَابًا فَوْقَ الْعَذَابِ بِمَا كَانُوا يُفْسِدُونَ

(Those who disbelieved and hinder (others) from the path of Allah, for them We will add torment to the torment because they used to spread corruption.)[16:88] Allah said next,

وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ

(And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.)

Ibn Jarir commented, "All these deeds that they did, O Muhammad, they did while your Lord is aware of them, and He collects and records these deeds with Him, so that He recompenses them when they meet Him and return to Him.

This is because your Lord would not destroy the (populations of) towns for their wrongdoing while their people were unaware (131)For all there will be degrees according to what they did. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.) Allah sai (132)

ذَٰلِكَ أَن لَّمْ يَكُن رَّبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا غَافِلُونَ

(This is because your Lord would not destroy the (populations of) towns for their wrongdoing while their people were unaware.) meaning: 'We sent the Messengers and revealed the Books to the Jinns and mankind, so that no one has an excuse that he is being punished for his wrongs although he did not receive Allah's Message. Therefore, We did not punish any of the nations, except after sending Messengers to them, so that they have no excuse.' Allah said in other Ayat,

وَإِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ

(And there never was a nation but a warner had passed among them.)[35:24], and

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ

(And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah, and stay away from At-Taghut (all false deities).")[16:36], and

وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا

(And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger.)[17:15], and,

كُلَّمَا أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ - قَالُوا بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَاءَنَا نَذِيرٌ فَكَذَّبْنَا

(Every time a group is cast therein, its keeper will ask: "Did no warner come to you?" They will say: "Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we belied him.")[67:8-9]

There are many other Ayat on this subject. At-Tabari said, "Allah's statement,

وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَاتٌ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا

(For all there will be degrees according to what they did.) means, every person who obeys Allah or behaves disobediently, has grades and ranks according to their works, which Allah gives them as recompense, good for good and evil for evil." I say, it is possible that Allah's statement,

وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَاتٌ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا

(For all there will be degrees according to what they did.) refers to the disbelievers of the Jinns and mankind who will earn a place in the Fire according to their evil deeds. Allah said,

قَالَ لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ

(He will say: "For each one there is double (torment).")[7:38], and,

الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ زِدْنَاهُمْ عَذَابًا فَوْقَ الْعَذَابِ بِمَا كَانُوا يُفْسِدُونَ

(Those who disbelieved and hinder (others) from the path of Allah, for them We will add torment to the torment because they used to spread corruption.)[16:88] Allah said next,

وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ

(And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.)

Ibn Jarir commented, "All these deeds that they did, O Muhammad, they did while your Lord is aware of them, and He collects and records these deeds with Him, so that He recompenses them when they meet Him and return to Him.

And your Lord is Al-Ghani, full of mercy; if He wills, He can destroy you; and in your place make whom He wills as your successors, as He raised you from the seed of other people (133)Surely, that which you are promised, will verily come to pass, and you cannot escape (134)Say: "O my people! Work according to your way, surely, I too am working, and you will come to know for which of us will be the (happy) end in the Hereafter. Certainly the wrongdoers will not be successful. (135)

If They Disobey, They Will Perish

Allah said,

وَرَبُّكَ

(And your Lord...), O Muhammad,

الْغَنِيُّ

(is 'Al-Ghani') Rich, free from needing His creatures in any way or form, while they stand in need of Him in all situations,

ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ

(full of mercy;) towards creation. Allah said in another Ayah,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(Truly, Allah is full of kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind.)[2:143]

إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ

(if He wills, He can destroy you.) if you defy His commandments,

وَيَسْتَخْلِفْ مِن بَعْدِكُم مَّا يَشَاءُ

(And in your place make whom He wills as your successors,) who behave obediently,

كَمَا أَنشَأَكُم مِّن ذُرِّيَّةِ قَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ

(As He raised you from the seed of other people.) and surely, He is able to do this, and it is easy for Him. And just as Allah has destroyed the earlier nations and brought their successors, He is able to do away with these generations and bring other people in their place. Allah has also said;

إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ وَيَأْتِ بِآخَرِينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ قَدِيرًا

(If He wills, He can take you away, O people, and bring others. And Allah is Ever Capable over that.)[4:133],

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ - إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ - وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ

(O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allah. But Allah is Rich (free of all needs), Worthy of all praise. If He willed, He could destroy you and bring about a new creation. And that is not hard for Allah.)[35:15-17], and,

وَاللَّهُ الْغَنِيُّ وَأَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوا أَمْثَالَكُم

(But Allah is Rich (free of all needs), and you are poor. And if you turn away, He will exchange you for some other people and they will not be your likes.)[47:38].

Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Ya'qub bin 'Utbah said that he heard Aban bin 'Uthman saying about this Ayah,

كَمَا أَنشَأَكُم مِّن ذُرِّيَّةِ قَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ

(As He raised you from the seed of other people.) "The seed means the offspring and the children." Allah's statement,

إِنَّ مَا تُوعَدُونَ لَآتٍ وَمَا أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ

(Surely, that which you are promised, will verily, come to pass and you cannot escape.) means, tell them, O Muhammad, that what they have been promised of Resurrection will surely occur,

وَمَا أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ

(and you cannot escape.) from Allah. Rather, He is able to resurrect you even after you become dust and bones. Certainly, Allah is able to do all things and nothing ever escapes His power. Allah said;

قُلْ يَا قَوْمِ اعْمَلُوا عَلَىٰ …

And your Lord is Al-Ghani, full of mercy; if He wills, He can destroy you; and in your place make whom He wills as your successors, as He raised you from the seed of other people (133)Surely, that which you are promised, will verily come to pass, and you cannot escape (134)Say: "O my people! Work according to your way, surely, I too am working, and you will come to know for which of us will be the (happy) end in the Hereafter. Certainly the wrongdoers will not be successful. (135)

If They Disobey, They Will Perish

Allah said,

وَرَبُّكَ

(And your Lord...), O Muhammad,

الْغَنِيُّ

(is 'Al-Ghani') Rich, free from needing His creatures in any way or form, while they stand in need of Him in all situations,

ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ

(full of mercy;) towards creation. Allah said in another Ayah,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(Truly, Allah is full of kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind.)[2:143]

إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ

(if He wills, He can destroy you.) if you defy His commandments,

وَيَسْتَخْلِفْ مِن بَعْدِكُم مَّا يَشَاءُ

(And in your place make whom He wills as your successors,) who behave obediently,

كَمَا أَنشَأَكُم مِّن ذُرِّيَّةِ قَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ

(As He raised you from the seed of other people.) and surely, He is able to do this, and it is easy for Him. And just as Allah has destroyed the earlier nations and brought their successors, He is able to do away with these generations and bring other people in their place. Allah has also said;

إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ وَيَأْتِ بِآخَرِينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ قَدِيرًا

(If He wills, He can take you away, O people, and bring others. And Allah is Ever Capable over that.)[4:133],

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ - إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ - وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ

(O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allah. But Allah is Rich (free of all needs), Worthy of all praise. If He willed, He could destroy you and bring about a new creation. And that is not hard for Allah.)[35:15-17], and,

وَاللَّهُ الْغَنِيُّ وَأَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوا أَمْثَالَكُم

(But Allah is Rich (free of all needs), and you are poor. And if you turn away, He will exchange you for some other people and they will not be your likes.)[47:38].

Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Ya'qub bin 'Utbah said that he heard Aban bin 'Uthman saying about this Ayah,

كَمَا أَنشَأَكُم مِّن ذُرِّيَّةِ قَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ

(As He raised you from the seed of other people.) "The seed means the offspring and the children." Allah's statement,

إِنَّ مَا تُوعَدُونَ لَآتٍ وَمَا أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ

(Surely, that which you are promised, will verily, come to pass and you cannot escape.) means, tell them, O Muhammad, that what they have been promised of Resurrection will surely occur,

وَمَا أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ

(and you cannot escape.) from Allah. Rather, He is able to resurrect you even after you become dust and bones. Certainly, Allah is able to do all things and nothing ever escapes His power. Allah said;

قُلْ يَا قَوْمِ اعْمَلُوا عَلَىٰ …

And your Lord is Al-Ghani, full of mercy; if He wills, He can destroy you; and in your place make whom He wills as your successors, as He raised you from the seed of other people (133)Surely, that which you are promised, will verily come to pass, and you cannot escape (134)Say: "O my people! Work according to your way, surely, I too am working, and you will come to know for which of us will be the (happy) end in the Hereafter. Certainly the wrongdoers will not be successful. (135)

If They Disobey, They Will Perish

Allah said,

وَرَبُّكَ

(And your Lord...), O Muhammad,

الْغَنِيُّ

(is 'Al-Ghani') Rich, free from needing His creatures in any way or form, while they stand in need of Him in all situations,

ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ

(full of mercy;) towards creation. Allah said in another Ayah,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(Truly, Allah is full of kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind.)[2:143]

إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ

(if He wills, He can destroy you.) if you defy His commandments,

وَيَسْتَخْلِفْ مِن بَعْدِكُم مَّا يَشَاءُ

(And in your place make whom He wills as your successors,) who behave obediently,

كَمَا أَنشَأَكُم مِّن ذُرِّيَّةِ قَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ

(As He raised you from the seed of other people.) and surely, He is able to do this, and it is easy for Him. And just as Allah has destroyed the earlier nations and brought their successors, He is able to do away with these generations and bring other people in their place. Allah has also said;

إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ وَيَأْتِ بِآخَرِينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ قَدِيرًا

(If He wills, He can take you away, O people, and bring others. And Allah is Ever Capable over that.)[4:133],

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ - إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ - وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ

(O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allah. But Allah is Rich (free of all needs), Worthy of all praise. If He willed, He could destroy you and bring about a new creation. And that is not hard for Allah.)[35:15-17], and,

وَاللَّهُ الْغَنِيُّ وَأَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوا أَمْثَالَكُم

(But Allah is Rich (free of all needs), and you are poor. And if you turn away, He will exchange you for some other people and they will not be your likes.)[47:38].

Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Ya'qub bin 'Utbah said that he heard Aban bin 'Uthman saying about this Ayah,

كَمَا أَنشَأَكُم مِّن ذُرِّيَّةِ قَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ

(As He raised you from the seed of other people.) "The seed means the offspring and the children." Allah's statement,

إِنَّ مَا تُوعَدُونَ لَآتٍ وَمَا أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ

(Surely, that which you are promised, will verily, come to pass and you cannot escape.) means, tell them, O Muhammad, that what they have been promised of Resurrection will surely occur,

وَمَا أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ

(and you cannot escape.) from Allah. Rather, He is able to resurrect you even after you become dust and bones. Certainly, Allah is able to do all things and nothing ever escapes His power. Allah said;

قُلْ يَا قَوْمِ اعْمَلُوا عَلَىٰ …

And they assign to Allah a share of the tilth and cattle which He has created, and they say: "This is for Allah," according to their claim, "and this is for our partners." But the share of their "partners" reaches not Allah, while the share of Allah reaches their "partners"! Evil is the way they judge (136)

Some Acts of Shirk

Allah chastises and criticizes the idolators who invented innovations, Kufr and Shirk, and called on partners and rivals with Allah among His creation, although He created every thing, all praise is due to Him. This is why Allah said,

وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ مِمَّا ذَرَأَ

(And they assign to Allah from that which He has created,)

مِنَ الْحَرْثِ

(of the tilth) meaning, fruits and produce,

وَالْأَنْعَامِ نَصِيبًا

(and of the cattle a share) meaning a part and a section.

فَقَالُوا هَٰذَا لِلَّهِ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَهَٰذَا لِشُرَكَائِنَا

(and they say: "This is for Allah," according to their claim, "and this is for our partners.") Allah said next,

فَمَا كَانَ لِشُرَكَائِهِمْ فَلَا يَصِلُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ فَهُوَ يَصِلُ إِلَىٰ شُرَكَائِهِمْ

(But the share of their "partners" reaches not Allah, while the share of Allah reaches their "partners"!)

Ali bin Abi Talhah and Al-'Awfi narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said; "When they, the enemies of Allah, would cultivate the land or collect produce, they would assign a part of it to Allah and another part to the idol. They would keep the share for the idol, whether land, produce or anything else, and preserve its division to such an extent that they would collect anything that accidentally falls from the share they assigned to Allah and add it to the share of the idol. If the water that they assigned for the idol irrigated something (a section of land, for instance) that they assigned for Allah, they would add whatever this water irrigated to the idol's share! If the land or produce that they assigned for Allah was accidentally mixed with the share that they assigned for the idol, they would say that the idol is poor. Therefore, they would add it to the share they assigned for the idol and would not return it to the share they assigned for Allah. If the water that they assigned for Allah irrigated what they assigned for the idol they would leave it (the produce) for the idol. They also made some of their other property sacred, like the 'Baḥīrah', 'Sā'ibah', 'Waşīlah' and 'Ḥām', assigning them to the idols, claiming that they do so as way of seeking a means of approach to Allah. Allah said,

وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ مِمَّا ذَرَأَ مِنَ الْحَرْثِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ نَصِيبًا

(And they assign to Allah a share of the tilth and cattle which He has created...)."

Similar was said by Mujahid, Qatadah, As-Suddi and others. 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam commented; "Every type of slaughter that they would assign for Allah, would never be eaten unless they mentioned the names of their idols when slaughtering it. Yet for what they sacrificed in the names of the idols, they would not mention Allah's Name when slaughtering it." He then recited the Ayah (6:136) until he reached,

سَاءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ

(Evil is the way they judge!)

This Ayah means, evil is that which they determined, for they …

And so to many of the idolators, their "partners" have made fair seeming the killing of their children, in order to lead them to their own destruction and cause confusion in their religion. And if Allah had willed, they would not have done so. So leave them alone with their fabrications (137)

Shaytan Lured the Idolators to Kill Their Children

Allah says, just as the Shayatin lured the idolators to assign a share for Allah from what He created of agriculture and cattle - and a share for the idols, they also made it seem fair for them to kill their children, for fear of poverty, and burying their daughters alive, for fear of dishonor.

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn 'Abbas that he commented;

وَكَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَ لِكَثِيرٍ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ قَتْلَ أَوْلَادِهِمْ شُرَكَاؤُهُمْ

(And so to many of the idolators, their "partners" have made fair seeming the killing of their children...)

"They make killing their children attractive to them."

Mujahid said, "Idolators' partners among the devils ordered them to bury their children for fear of poverty." As-Suddi said, "The devils commanded them to kill their daughters so that they,

لِيُرْدُوهُمْ

(lead them to their own destruction), and to,

وَلِيَلْبِسُوا عَلَيْهِمْ دِينَهُمْ

(cause confusion in their religion.)" Allah said,

وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا فَعَلُوهُ

(And if Allah had willed, they would not have done so.) meaning, all this occurred by Allah's leave, will and decree, but He dislikes these practices, and He has the perfect wisdom in every decree. He is never questioned about what He does, but they all will be questioned.

فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ

(So leave them alone with their fabrications.) meaning, avoid and abandon them and what they do, for Allah will judge between you and them.

And according to their claim, they say that such and such cattle and crops are Hijr (forbidden), and none should eat of them except those whom we allow. And (they say) there are cattle forbidden to be used for burden, and cattle on which (at slaughtering) the Name of Allah is not pronounced; lying against Him (Allah). He will recompense them for what they used to fabricate (138)

The Idolators Forbade Certain Types of Cattle

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas said, "Hijr refers to what they forbade, such as the Wasilah, and the like."

Similar was said by Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi, Qatadah, 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam and others. Qatadah commented on,

وَقَالُوا هَٰذِهِ أَنْعَامٌ وَحَرْثٌ حِجْرٌ

(They say that such and such cattle and crops are Hijr,)

"It is a prohibition that the Shayatin appointed for their wealth, and a type of exaggeration and extremism that did not come from Allah." ('Abdur-Rahman) Ibn Zayd bin Aslam said that,

حِجْرٌ

(Hijr,) refers to what the idolators designated for their deities. As-Suddi said that the Ayah,

لَّا يَطْعَمُهَا إِلَّا مَن نَّشَاءُ بِزَعْمِهِمْ

(And none should eat of them except those whom we allow, they claimed...) means, "They said, only those whom we choose can eat of them., and the rest are prohibited from eating them." Similar to this honorable Ayah, Allah said,

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ فَجَعَلْتُم مِّنْهُ حَرَامًا وَحَلَالًا قُلْ آللَّهُ أَذِنَ لَكُمْ أَمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَفْتَرُونَ

(Say: "Tell me, what provision Allah has sent down to you! And you have made of it lawful and unlawful." Say: "Has Allah permitted you (to do so), or do you invent a lie against Allah?")[10:59], and,

مَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ مِن بَحِيرَةٍ وَلَا سَائِبَةٍ وَلَا وَصِيلَةٍ وَلَا حَامٍ وَلَٰكِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ

(Allah has not instituted things like 'Baḥīrah' or a 'Sā'ibah' or a 'Waşīlah' or a 'Ḥām'. But those who disbelieve invent lies against Allah, and most of them have no understanding.)[5:103]

As-Suddi said that cattle forbidden to be used for burden were the 'Baḥīrah', 'Sā'ibah', 'Waşīlah' and 'Ḥām', as well as cattle for which the idolators did not mention Allah's Name when slaughtering them nor when they were born.

Abu Bakr bin 'Ayyash said that 'Asim bin Abi An-Najud said, "Abu Wa'il said to me, 'Do you know the meaning of the Ayah,

وَأَنْعَامٌ حُرِّمَتْ ظُهُورُهَا وَأَنْعَامٌ لَّا يَذْكُرُونَ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا

(And (they say) there are cattle forbidden to be used for burden, and cattle on which the Name of Allah is not pronounced.)

I said, 'No.' He said, 'It is the Bahirah, which they would not use to for Hajj (either by riding it or carrying things on it).'" Mujahid also said that they were some of the camels belonging to idolators on which Allah's Name was not mentioned when riding, milking, carrying things, copulation or any other action.

افْتِرَاءً عَلَيْهِ

(lying against Him.) against Allah. The idolators indeed lied when they attributed this evil to Allah's religion and Law; He did not allow them to do that nor did He approve of it,

سَيَجْزِيهِم بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ …

Indeed lost are they who have killed their children, foolishly, without knowledge, and (they) have forbidden that which Allah has provided for them, inventing a lie against Allah. They have indeed gone astray and were not guided (140)

Allah says that those who committed these evil acts have earned the loss of this life and the Hereafter.

As for this life, they lost when they killed their children and made it difficult for themselves by prohibiting some types of their wealth, as an act of innovation that they invented on their own. As for the Hereafter, they will end up in the worst dwellings, because they used to lie about Allah and invent falsehood about Him. Allah also said,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ - مَتَاعٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُهُمْ ثُمَّ نُذِيقُهُمُ الْعَذَابَ الشَّدِيدَ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ

(Say: "Verily, those who invent a lie against Allah will never be successful." (A brief) enjoyment in this world! And then unto Us will be their return, then We shall make them taste the severest torment because they used to disbelieve.)[10:69-70]

Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr bin Marduwyah recorded that Ibn 'Abbas commented, "If it pleases you to know how ignorant the Arabs used to be, then recite the Ayat beyond Ayah one hundred and thirty in Surat Al-An'am,

قَدْ خَسِرَ الَّذِينَ قَتَلُوا أَوْلَادَهُمْ سَفَهًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَحَرَّمُوا مَا رَزَقَهُمُ اللَّهُ افْتِرَاءً عَلَى اللَّهِ قَدْ ضَلُّوا وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ

(Indeed lost are they who have killed their children, foolishly, without knowledge, and [they] have forbidden that which Allah has provided for them, inventing a lie against Allah. They have indeed gone astray and were not guided.)" Al-Bukhari also recorded this in the section of his Sahih on the virtues of the Quraysh.