Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AL AN'AAM [139]

139. And they say: ”What is in the bellies of such and such cattle is for our males alone, and forbidden to our females, but if it is born dead, then all have shares therein.” He will punish them for their attribution (of such false orders to Allah). Verily, He is All-Wise, All-Knower.) Abu Ishaq As-Subay`i narrated that `Abdullah bin Abi Al-Hudhayl reported that Ibn `Abbas said that,

(And they say: ”What is in the bellies of such and such cattle is for our males alone...”) refers to milk. `Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said about this Ayah,

(And they say: ”What is in the bellies of such and such cattle is for our males alone...”) ”It is about milk, which they prohibited for their females and allowed only their males to drink. When a sheep would give birth to a male sheep, they would slaughter it and feed it to their males, but not to their females. If the newly born lamb was a female, they would not slaughter it, but if it was stillborn, they would share in it (with their females)! Allah forbade this practice.'' Similar was said by As-Suddi. Ash-Sha`bi said, ”The Bahirah's milk was only given to the men. But if any cattle from the Bahirah died, both men and women would share in eating it.'' Similar was said by `Ikrimah, Qatadah and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam. Mujahid commented;

(And they say: ”What is in the bellies of such and such cattle is for our males alone, and forbidden to our females...'') ”It refers to the Sa'ibah and the Bahirah.'' Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid and Qatadah said that Allah's statement,

(He will punish them for their attribution. ) means, uttering such falsehood. This is explained by Allah's statement,

(And say not concerning that which your tongues falsely utter: ”This is lawful and this is forbidden.” so as to invent lies against Allah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper.) ﴿16:116﴾ Allah said,

(Verily, He is All-Wise.) in His actions, statements, Law and decree,

(All-Knower), in the actions of His servants, whether good or evil, and He will recompense them for these deeds completely.