6. Al-‘An`am
6.1 It was narrated from Abu Dharr (رضي الله عنه)
That the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “Whoever fasts three days in every month, that is fasting for a lifetime.” Then, in testimony of that, Allah revealed: “Whoever brings a good deed shall have ten time the like thereof to his credit.” [6:160] So one day is equivalent to ten (in reward).
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1708
6.2 Narrated ‘Abdullah (رضي الله عنه)
When the following Verse was revealed: “It is those who believe and confuse not their belief with wrong (worshipping others besides Allah.)” (6:83), the companions of Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) asked, “Who is amongst us who had not done injustice (wrong)?” Allah revealed: “No doubt, joining others in worship with Allah is a great injustice (wrong) indeed.” (31.13)
6.3 Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (رضي الله عنه)
“When Allah revealed this Ayah: ‘Say: He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet…’ The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: ‘I seek refuge in Your Face.’ So when (the following) was revealed: ‘Or to cover you in confusion in party strife, and make you taste the violence of one another (6:65).’ The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: ‘This is less burdensome’ or ‘This is easier.'”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3065
6.4 Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه)
“Some people came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) and they said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Why is it that we can eat what we kill but we can not eat what Allah has killed?’ So Allah revealed: So eat of that on which Allah’s Name has been mentioned if you are indeed believers in His Ayat…” up to His saying: …And if you obey them, then you would indeed be idolaters (6:121).”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3069
6.5 Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه)
“Whoever wishes to look at the Sahifah which Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) placed his seal upon, then let him look at these Ayat, ‘Say: Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from… up to His saying “That you may have Taqwa (6:151-153).'”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3070
6.6 Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه)
That the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “Allah, Blessed and Most High, has said – and His saying is the Truth: ‘When My slave considers doing something good then write it as one good for him. If he acts upon it then write ten of the same for him. And when he considers doing something evil, then do not write it. If he acts upon it, then write it. If he leaves it” – and perhaps he said: “if he does not act upon it, then write a good reward for him.'” Then he [the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم)] recited: Whoever comes with a good, then he shall have ten the like thereof (6:160).
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3073
6.7 Sa’d bin Abu Waqqas (رضي الله عنه) reported
Six of us were with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) when the infidels said to him: “Drive these ones away, lest they should begin to venture against us”. The six were, myself, Ibn Mas’ud, a man of the Hudhail tribe, Bilal and two other men whose names I don’t know. Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) thought what Allah wished him to think, and Allah revealed: “And turn not away those who invoke their Rubb, morning and afternoon seeking His Face.” (6:52)
Riyad as-Salihin Book 1, Hadith 260
6.8 It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) said
“The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) sacrificed two rams on the Day of ‘Eid. When he turned them to face towards the prayer direction he said: ‘Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, as a monotheist, and I am not of the polytheists. Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of all that exists. He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims. [6:79,162-163] O Allah, from You to You, on behalf of Muhammad and his nation.’”
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 4, Book 26, Hadith 3121
6.9 It was narrated that Sa’d (رضي الله عنه) said
“This Verse was revealed concerning us six: Myself, Ibn Mas’ud, Suhaib, ‘Ammar, Miqdad and Bilal. The Quraish said to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم): ‘We do not want to join them, send them away.’ Thoughts of that entered the heart of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) as much as Allah willed, then Allah revealed: “And turn not away those who invoke their Lord, morning and afternoon seeking His Face. You are accountable for them in nothing, and they are accountable for you in nothing, that you may turn them away, and thus become of the unjust.” [6:52]
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4128
6.10 Ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) narrated
That he was asked about a hedgehog and he recited, “Say [O Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) I find not in that which has been inspired to me anything forbidden (6:145)].” An old man who was present said, ‘I heard Abu Hurairah say, ‘It was mentioned in the presence of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) and he said, “It is an abomination from those things which are abominable.” Ibn ‘Umar then said, ‘If the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) had said that, then it is as he said.’
Bulugh al-Maram Book 12, Hadith 1366
6.11 Yahya (رضي الله عنه) related
To me from Malik that the best of what he had heard about horses, mules, and donkeys was that they were not eaten because Allah, the Blessed, the Exalted,said, “And horses, and mules and asses, for you to ride, and as an adornment. ” (Sura 16 ayat 8) . He said, may He be Blessed and Exalted, “In cattle, some of them you ride, and some of them you eat.” (Sura 6 ayat 79). He said, the Blessed, the Exalted, “Mention Allah’s name over what He has provided you of cattle, and eat of them and feed the beggar (al-qani) and the suppliant (al-mutarr). (Sura 22 ayat 34).
Malik said “Allah mentioned horses, mules, and donkeys for riding and adornment, and He mentioned cattle for riding and eating.”
Malik said, “Al-qani also means the poor.”
Muwatta Malik Book 25, Hadith 15
6.12 Marwan b. a-hakkam (رضي الله عنه) said
Zaid b. Thabit asked me: Why do you recite short surahs in the sunset prayer? I saw the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) reciting two long surahs at the sunset prayers. I asked him: which are those two long surahs? He replied: Al-A’raf (surah vii) and al-an’am (surah vi). I ( the narrator Ibn Juraij) asked Ibn Mulaikah (about these surahs): He said on his own accord: Al-ma’idah (surah v.) and al-A’raf(furah vii.)
6.13 ‘Abdullah b. Abu Mulaika (رضي الله عنه) said
The daughter of ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan died in Mecca. We came to attend her (funeral). Ibn ‘Umar and Ibn ‘Abbas were also present there, and I was sitting between them. He added: I (first sat) by the side of one of them, then the other one came and he sat by my side. ‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar said to ‘Amr b. ‘Uthman who was sitting opposite to him: Will you not prevent the people from lamenting, for the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) had said:” The dead is punished because of the lamenting of his family for him”? Ibn ‘Abbas then said that Umar used to say someting of that nature, and then narrated saying: I proceeded from Mecca along with ‘Umar till we reached al-Baida’ and there was a party of riders under the shade of a tree. He said (to me): Go and find out who this party is. I cast a glance and there was Suhaib (in that party). So I informed him (‘Umar) about it. He said: Call him to me. So I went back to Suhaib and said: Go and meet the Commander of the believers. When ‘Umar was wounded, Suhaib came walling: Alas, for the brother! alas for the companion! ‘Umar said: O Suhaib, do you wail for me, whereas the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said:” The dead would be punished on account of the lamentation of the (members of his family)”? Ibn ‘Abbas said: When ‘Umar died I made a mention of it to ‘A’isha. She said: May Allah have mercy upon ‘Umar! I swear by Allah that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) never said that Allah would punish the believer because of the weeping (of any one of the members of his family), but he said that Allah would increase the punishment of the unbeliever because of the weeping of his family over him. ‘A’isha said: The Qur’an is enough for you (when it states):” No bearer of burden will bear another’s burden” (vi. 164). Thereupon Ibn ‘Abbas said: Allah is He Who has caused laughter and weeping. Ibn Abu Mulaika said: By Allah, Ibn ‘Umar said nothing.
Sahih Muslim 928 b, 927 i, 929 b
6.14 Narrated Hudhayfah (رضي الله عنه)
Hudhayfah saw the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) praying at night. He said: Allah is most great” three times, “Possessor of kingdom, grandeur, greatness and majesty.”
He then began (his prayer) and recited Surah al-Baqarah; then he bowed and he paused in bowing as long as he stood up; he said while bowing, “Glory be to my mighty Lord,” “Glory be to my mighty Lord” ; then he raised his head, after bowing: then he stood up and he paused as long as he paused in bowing and said, “Praise be to my Lord” ; then he prostrated and paused in prostration as long as he paused in the standing position; he said while prostrating: “Glory be to my most high Lord”; then he raised his head after prostration, and sat as long as he prostrated, and said while sitting: “O my Lord forgive me.”
He offered four rak’ahs of prayer and recited in them Surah al-Baqarah, Aal Imran, an-Nisa, al-Ma’idah, or al-An’am.
6.15 Narrated Ibn `Abbas (رضي الله عنه)
If you wish to know about the ignorance of the Arabs, refer to Surat-al-Anam after Verse No. 130:– Indeed lost are those who have killed their children From folly without knowledge and have forbidden that which Allah has provided for them, inventing a lie against Allah. They have indeed gone astray and were not guided.’ (6.14)
6.16 It is narrated on the authority of Masruq (رضي الله عنه) that he said
I was resting at (the house of) ‘A’isha that she said: O Abu ‘A’isha (kunya of Masruq), there are three things, and he who affirmed even one of them fabricated the greatest lie against Allah. I asked that they were. She said: He who presumed that Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) saw his Lord (with his ocular vision) fabricated the greatest lie against Allah. I was reclining but then sat up and said: Mother of the Faithful, wait a bit and do not be in a haste. Has not Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said:” And truly he saw him on the clear horizon” (Al-Qur’an, Surat at-Takwir, 81:23) and” he saw Him in another descent” (Al-Qur’an, Surat Najm 53:13)? She said: I am the first of this Ummah who asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) about it, and he said: Verily he is Gabriel. I have never seen him in his original form in which he was created except on those two occasions (to which these verses refer); I saw him descending from the heaven and filling (the space) from the sky to the earth with the greatness of his bodily structure. She said: Have you not heard Allah saying: “Eyes comprehend Him not, but He comprehends (all) vision. and He is Subtle, and All-Aware” (Al-Qur’an, Surat al-An`am 6:103)? (She, i.e. ‘A’isha, further said): Have you not heard that, verily, Allah says: “And it is not for any human being that Allah should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a partition or that He sends a messenger to reveal, by His permission, what He wills. Indeed, He is Most High and Wise.” (Al-Qur’an, Surat ash-Shura, 42:51) She said: He who presumes that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) concealed anything from the Book of Allah fabricates the greatest lie against Allah. Allah says: “O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.” (Al-Qur’an, Surat al-Ma’idah, 5:67). She said: He who presumes that he would inform about what was going to happen tomorrow fabricates the greatest lie against Allah. And Allah says “Say, ‘None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah , and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.'” (Al-Qur’an, Surat an-Naml, 27:65).
6.17 It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه)
“And certainly, the Shayatin (devils) do inspire their friends (from mankind).” [6:121] He said: “They used to say: ‘Whatever the Name of Allah has been mentioned over, do not eat it, and whatever the Name of Allah has not been mentioned over, eat it.’ Then Allah said: “Eat not of that over which Allah’s Name has not been pronounced.’” [6:121]
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3173
6.18 Narrated ‘Ikrimah (رضي الله عنه)
That Ibn ‘Abbas said: “Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) saw his Lord.” I said: “Did Allah not say: No vision can grasp Him, but He grasps all vision (6:103). He said: “Woe unto you! That is when He manifests His Light. But Muhammad saw his Lord two times.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3279
6.19 Narrated ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه)
“Abu Jahl said to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم): ‘We do not deny you, but we deny what you came with.’ So Allah Most High revealed: It is not you that they deny but is Allah’s Ayat which the wrong-doers reject (6:33).”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3064
6.20 Narrated ‘Atiyyah (رضي الله عنه)
From Abu Sa’eed, from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم), regarding the saying of Allah, Most High: Or some of the Signs of your Lord come (6:158). He (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “The sun’s rising from its setting place.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3071
6.21 It was narrated from Abu Sukainah (رضي الله عنه), a man from among the Muharririn,[1]
That a man among the Companions of the the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) commanded them to dig the trench (Al-Khandaq), there was a rock in their way preventing them from digging. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) stood, picked up a pickaxe, put his Rida’ (upper garment) at the edge of the ditch and said: ‘And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.’ [1] One-third of the rock broke off while Salman Al-Farisi was standing there watching, and there was a flash of light when the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) struck (the rock). Then he struck it again and said: ‘And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. Nonce can change His Words. Ans He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower’ And another third of the rock broke off and there was another flash of light, which Salman saw. Then he struck (the rock) a third time and said: ‘And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.’ The last third fell, and the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) came out, picked up his Rida’ and sat down. Salman said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, Each time you struck the rock there was a flash of light.’ The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said to him: ‘O Salman, did you see that?’ He said: ‘Yes, by the One Who sent you with the truth, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘When I struck the first blow, the cities of Kisra and their environs were shown to me, and many other cities, and I saw them with my own eyes.’ Those of his Companions who were present said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah to grant us victory and to give us their land as spoils of war, and to destroy their lands at our hands.’ So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed for that. (Then he said:) ‘Then I struck the second blow and the cities of Caesar and their environs were shown to me, and I saw them with my own eyes.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah to grant us victory and to give us their lands as spoils of war, and to destroy their lands at our hands.’ So the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) prayed for that. (Then he said:) ‘Then I struck the third blow and the cities of Ethiopia were shown to me, and the villages around them, and I saw them with my own eyes.’ But the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said at that point: ‘Leave the Ethiopians alone so long as they leave you alone, and leave the Turks alone so long as they leave you alone.'” [1] An-An’am 6:115.
6.22 Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As (رضي الله عنه)
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: Three types of people attend Friday prayer; One is present in a frivolous way and that is all he gets from it; another comes with a supplication, Allah may grant or refuse his request as He wishes; another is present silently and quietly with-out stepping over a Muslim or annoying anyone, and that is an atonement for his sins till the next Friday and three days more, the reason being that Allah, the Exalted, says: “He who does a good deed will have ten times as much” (vi.160).
6.23 It was narrated from Khabbab (رضي الله عنه)
Concerning the Verse: “And turn not away those who invoke their Lord, morning and afternoon…” up to His saying: “…and thus become of the unjust.” [6:52] He said: “Aqra’ bin Habis At-Tamimi and ‘Uyainah bin Hisn Al-Fazri came and found the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with Suhaib, Bilal, ‘Ammar and Khabbab, sitting with some of the believers who were weak (i.e., socially). When they saw them around the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) they looked down on them. They took him aside and said: ‘We want you to sit with us along, so that the ‘Arabs will recognize our superiority. If the delegations of the Arabs come to you we will feel ashamed if the Arabs see us with these slaves. So, when we come to you, make them get up from your presence, then when we have finished, sit with them if you wish.’ He said: ‘Yes.’ They said: ‘Write a document for us (binding you to that).’ So he called for a piece of paper and he called ‘Ali to write, and we were sitting in a corner. Then Jibra’il (as), came down and said: “And turn not away those who invoke their Lord, morning and afternoon seeking His Face. You are accountable for them in nothing, and they are accountable for you in nothing, that you may turn them away, and thus become of the unjust.” [6:52] Then he mentioned Aqra’ bin Habis and ‘Uyaynah bin Hisn, then he said: “Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say: ‘Is it these (poor believers) whom Allah has favored from amongst us?’ Does not Allah know best those who are grateful.” [6:53] Then he said: “When those who believe in Our Ayat come to you, say: Salamun ‘Alaykum (peace be on you); your Lord has written (prescribed) mercy for Himself”.” [6:54] He said: “Then we got so close to him that our knees were touching his, and the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) was sitting with us. When he wanted to get up, he stood up and left us. Then Allah revealed: “And keep yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His Face; and let not your eyes overlook them,” – and do not sit with the nobles – “desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance,” – meaning ‘Uyainah and Aqra’ – “and who follows his own lusts, and those affair (deeds) has been lost” [18:28] He said: ‘May they be doomed.’ He said: ‘May ‘Uyainah and Aqra’ be doomed.’ Then he made the parable for them of two men and the parable of this world. Khabbab said: “We used to sit with the Prophet (ﷺ) and if the time came for him to leave, we would get up and leave him, then he would leave.”
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4127
6.24 Ibn `Abbas (رضي الله عنه) said
“All of Surat Al-An`am was revealed in Makkah at night, accompanied by seventy thousand angels, raising their voices in glorification of Allah”
(At-Tabarani)
6.25 The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said
‘The Qur’an was revealed in one fifth part, whoever memorised it in one fifth parts would not forget it. Except for Surah al An’am, which was revelaed in it’s entirity, seen off by seventy angels from each heaven until they delivered it to the Prophet. Never has it been recited over a sick person, without Allah granting him a cure’
(Baihaqi and Khatib)
6.26 Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) reported that
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said, “Surah An’aam is from the core of the Qur’an”
(Tafsir of al-Qurtubi)
6.27 Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه) has reported
That Nabi (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “Whoever reads the first three verses of Surah An’am when he reads Fajr Salah, forty thousand angels write down good deeds for him. One Angel with Iron spear will appear and stand guard between Heavens and Earth to safeguard the person from Shaytan, forcing the latter behind 70 veils. On the day of judgement Allah Ta’ala will say to him I am your Rabb and you are my slave, walk in my shade and drink from the pond of Kawthar, take a bath from Salsabil and enter Jannah without punishment and reckoning”.
(Ad Durrul Manthur)
6.28 Also, Jabir (رضي الله عنه) reported that
The Prophet Mohammed (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said, ‘So many Angels accompanied its revelation that the horizon was covered with them’
(Hakim, Dhahabi and Baihaqi)
6.29 Hazrat Abu Jafar (رضي الله عنه)
Through his chain of transmission narrates from Hazrat Anas ibn Malik radiyallahu anhu, saying that Rasoolullah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) has said, “Surah An’aam was revealed along with it were a host of angels covering both sides of the sky. They were singing praises and the Earth was shaking because of them.” and Rasoolullah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) was saying, “Glorified is my tremendous mighty Lord.” three times.
(Qurtubi)
6.30 Mahdawi (رضي الله عنه) has mentioned
That the commentators of the Qur’aan have said that the Torah was commenced with Alhamdu lillahilazee khalaqas samaawaati wal ardh (the first verse of Surah An’aam) and it has been terminated with verse Alhamdu lillahillazee lam yattakhiz waladaw walam yakul lahu shareekun fil mulki (the last verse of Surah Bani Israeel).
(Qurtubi)
6.31 Hazrat Jabir (رضي الله عنه) narrates
That Rasoolullah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said, “Whoever prays the first three verses of Surah An’aam until Wa ya‘lamu ma taksibun, Allah Ta’ala appoints for him one thousand angels who record his worship similar of their own. And an angel descends from the seventh heaven, with a crooked rod of iron. Now when the satan wishes to whisper to the reciter or drive into his heart the inclination of some sin the angel hits the satan such a hard blow that seventy barriers form between the satan and the reciter. And on Resurrection Day Allah Ta’ala will say to him, ‘Walk in My shade this day in which besides My shade no other shade exists. And eat the fruits of My paradise and drink from the pool of Kawthar, and take a wash from the spring of Salsabeel, for you are My servant and I am your Lord.”
(Qurtubi)
﴾ بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ﴿ 