The Ocean of the Quran

A verse by verse explanation of The Ultimate Scripture

Yā Sīn – Verse 72

وَذَلَّلناها لَهُم فَمِنها رَكوبُهُم وَمِنها يَأكُلونَ

And We made them tractable for them, so some of them make their mounts and some of them they eat.

EXEGESIS

Dhallalnā (we made tractable) signifies that We made or rendered easy, tractable, submissive, or manageable. Thus, they become under subjection, subdued, or in other words, tamed. The same verb is used to indicate easy access to fruits, Its shades will be close over them, and its clusters [of fruits] will be hanging low (dhullilat) (76:14).‎[1]

EXPOSITION

God subjugated the cattle and kept them entirely under the control of humankind. Hence, these animals can carry humans and their loads and are a food source for humankind.‎[2] In addition, these tamed and domestic cattle provide humankind milk to drink and make the various dairy products because God made them tamed and subjugated to humankind.‎[3]

If the tame domestic animals become wild, rebellious, and violent, they become dangerous to their owners in a way that tens of men could not stop their violence. Therefore, God has made them to be calm and submissive to their owners, that one small boy can control and lead a row of tens of camels. A remarkable fact is that a human cannot control a small fly but can control tens of camels because God made the camels submissive, but not the fly. This verse indicates that some cattle are used for riding and transportation, while others are the source of food. Even though all of them are edible in Islam, some are used for eating and others for transportation.‎[4]

INSIGHTS FROM HADITH

  1. Imam al-Ṣādiq (a) said to Mufaḍḍal ibn ʿUmar: ‘Look at the camel; if it becomes disobedient, then several men could not control it, then how can it be controlled by a small boy when obedient? Consider how a strong bull submits to allow his master to place a heavy yoke on its neck,‎[5] to plough the fields with it. The thoroughbred horses rush into sword-blades and spears like their masters during battles. A single person can control a flock of sheep, so if the sheep were scattered and each one took a side, the shepherd would not have been able to catch each one by himself. Similarly, the other species of animals are subservient to man. Why? No other reason than not having a free intellect or any reason. Had they possessed intellect and reason in matters, they would have defied humans in many of their tasks, and the camel would have rebelled against its leader, the bull against its master, the sheep would have got scattered from their shepherd, and so on.’‎[6]
  2. The Messenger of God said: ‘Meat is the superior food in this world and the hereafter.’ In another narration, he said: ‘The [most] superior meal of paradise is meat.’‎[7]
  3. Imam al-Ṣādiq (a) said: ‘Surely, this tender meat grows the flesh.’‎[8]
  4. The Messenger of God said: ‘We, the prophets (a), love eating meat.’‎[9]
  5. Imam al-Bāqir (a) said: ‘Eating meat increases hearing, sight, and strength.’‎[10]
  6. While discussing a balanced diet, Imam al-Ṣādiq (a) said: ‘Eat meat every week and do not addict yourselves and your children with it, for it has a harmful addiction like that of wine. And do not prevent it from them for more than forty days, for it degrades their morals.’
  7. The Messenger of God said: ‘Whoever forsakes eating meat for forty days, his morals will become degraded.’‎[11]

REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE

The first blessing mentioned is that He created the cattle and the second blessing is that He made them submissive to humankind. Even though some wild animals can be domesticated, tamed, or eaten, cattle are more easily controllable and accessible than the wild edible animals that require hunting to be eaten.‎[12] 

[1] Lane, p. 973.
[2] Mizan, 17/110.
[3] Amthal, 14/239.
[4] Amthal, 14/239.
[5] Tawhid, p. 55.
[6] Tawhid, p. 56.
[7] Wasail, 25/22.
[8] Mustadrak.W, 16/340.
[9] Mustadrak.W, 16/343.
[10] Mustadrak.W, 16/343.
[11] Mustadrak.W, 16/344.
[12] Razi, 26/106.