The Holy Quran 6:143 — Surah Al-An'am

Arabic text

ثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَزْوَٰجٍ ۖ مِّنَ ٱلضَّأْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَمِنَ ٱلْمَعْزِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۗ قُلْ ءَآلذَّكَرَيْنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ أَمَّا ٱشْتَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْحَامُ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۖ نَبِّـُٔونِى بِعِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ

Translation

(Allaah has created) Eight couples (from among the livestock). Two (male and female) are from sheep and two from goats. Say (to those Mushrikeen who prohibit the eating or riding of male animals sometimes and females at other times, saying that Allaah had commanded it), "Has Allaah forbidden both males (male sheep and male goat) or both females (female sheep and female goat), or that which is contained in the bellies of both females (which could either be male or female)?" Inform me with proof if you are indeed truthful. (This verse asks the Mushrikeen that if being male makes an animal forbidden, why are all males not forbidden? On the other hand, if being female makes an animal forbidden, why are all females not forbidden? Otherwise, if being unborn makes an animal forbidden, then both male and female ought to be forbidden. There is therefore no grounds for man to make animals forbidden. How can the Mushrikeen then declare things to be Halaal or Haraam? Only Allaah has the right to declare anything Halaal or Haraam.)

Tafsir (excerpt) — التفسير الميسر

هذه الأنعام التي رزقها الله عباده من الإبل والبقر والغنم ثمانية أصناف: أربعة منها من الغنم، وهي الضأن ذكورًا وإناثًا، والمعز ذكورًا وإناثًا. قل -أيها الرسول- لأولئك المشركين: هل حَرَّم الله الذكرين من الغنم؟ فإن قالوا: نعم، فقد كذبوا في ذلك; لأنهم لا يحرمون كل ذكر من الضأن والمعز، وقل لهم: هل حَرَّم الله الأنثيين من الغنم؟

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.