Surah Al-An"aam 6:136 - Tafsir & Translation
Read the Arabic text, translation, and detailed commentary for Surah Al-An"aam, Ayah 136
Arabic Text
وَجَعَلُوۡا لِلّٰهِ مِمَّا ذَرَاَ مِنَ الۡحَـرۡثِ وَالۡاَنۡعَامِ نَصِيۡبًا فَقَالُوۡا هٰذَا لِلّٰهِ بِزَعۡمِهِمۡ وَهٰذَا لِشُرَكَآٮِٕنَاۚ فَمَا كَانَ لِشُرَكَآٮِٕهِمۡ فَلَا يَصِلُ اِلَى اللّٰهِۚ وَمَا كَانَ لِلّٰهِ فَهُوَ يَصِلُ اِلٰى شُرَكَآٮِٕهِمۡؕ سَآءَ مَا يَحۡكُمُوۡنَ
Transliteration
WajaAAaloo lillahi mimma tharaamina alharthi wal-anAAami naseebanfaqaloo hatha lillahi bizaAAmihim wahathalishuraka-ina fama kana lishuraka-ihimfala yasilu ila Allahi wama kanalillahi fahuwa yasilu ila shuraka-ihimsaa ma yahkumoon
Verse Definition & Meaning
Meaning & Definition
Quran 6:136 from Surah Al-An'am exposes the hypocritical practices of Arab polytheists who divided their crops and livestock between Allah and their false idols, saying 'This is for Allah' and 'This is for our partners.' According to authentic Islamic scholarship including Ibn Abbas' commentary, these pagans would unfairly manipulate the allocations - when Allah's portion accidentally mixed with the idols' share, they would leave it for the idols, but if the idols' portion mixed with Allah's share, they would remove it saying 'Allah is independent and doesn't need this.' The verse reveals their systematic bias: 'But what is for their partners does not reach Allah, while what is for Allah - this reaches their partners.' Allah condemns this practice with 'Evil is that which they rule' (سَاءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ), highlighting how polytheists gave priority to false deities over their Creator. This verse demonstrates the fundamental injustice of shirk - associating partners with Allah who created everything, yet favoring created beings over the Creator in both intention and practice.
This definition is based on classical Islamic scholarship and authentic interpretations from recognized scholars.
Tafsir & Context
Detailed tafsir and context for Surah Al-An"aam Ayah 136 will be available soon.
Verse Wallpapers & Visual Content
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: Surah Al-An"aam Ayah 136
Find answers to common questions about the meaning, interpretation, and significance of this verse in Islamic teachings and daily life.
❓What is the meaning and context of Quran 6:136 about the division of wealth?
Quran 6:136 condemns the hypocritical practice of Arab polytheists who divided their agricultural produce and livestock between Allah and their idols, saying 'This is for Allah' and 'This is for our partners.' According to Ibn Abbas, they would systematically cheat by ensuring that anything accidentally falling from Allah's portion would be added to the idols' share, while anything from the idols' share that mixed with Allah's portion would remain with the idols, claiming 'Allah is independent and doesn't need this.'
❓How did the Arab polytheists unfairly allocate their offerings between Allah and idols?
The pagans practiced systematic bias in their allocations. When wind would blow grain from the idols' portion into Allah's share, they would carefully remove it and return it to the idols. However, when Allah's portion accidentally mixed with the idols' share, they would leave it there. During times of scarcity, they would use Allah's portion for themselves while preserving the idols' share intact, showing their true priorities and lack of genuine faith in Allah.
❓Why does Allah call their judgment 'evil' (سَاءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ) in verse 6:136?
Allah condemns their judgment as 'evil' because they committed fundamental injustice on multiple levels: first, they associated partners with Allah who created everything; second, they systematically favored false deities over their Creator in practical allocation; and third, they justified this unfairness through false reasoning. Their actions revealed that despite claiming to worship Allah, their true devotion was to their idols, making them guilty of both shirk (polytheism) and hypocrisy.
❓What was the systematic manipulation in the pagan offering system described in this verse?
According to classical tafsir, the pagans would manipulate their allocation system in favor of idols. If irrigation water designated for idols accidentally watered Allah's portion, they would transfer that produce to the idols. If Allah's water irrigated the idols' crops, they left it for the idols. They treated their false deities as 'poor' and in need, while claiming Allah was 'independent' and didn't need His designated share. This revealed their inverted priorities and lack of true understanding of Allah's sovereignty.
❓How does this verse relate to the broader theme of Surah Al-An'am regarding monotheism?
This verse is part of Al-An'am's comprehensive refutation of polytheism and establishment of pure monotheism (tawhid). It exposes the practical consequences of shirk - how associating partners with Allah leads to systematic injustice and moral corruption. The verse demonstrates that polytheism is not just a theological error but manifests in everyday practices that dishonor Allah while elevating false deities, making it a powerful argument for exclusive worship of Allah alone.
❓What spiritual and practical lessons does Al-An'am 6:136 offer to modern Muslims?
This verse teaches modern Muslims to examine their own allocation of time, wealth, and devotion. Just as the pagans gave priority to idols over Allah, Muslims today must guard against giving worldly pursuits, materialism, or other concerns precedence over Allah's rights. The verse warns against the tendency to compromise religious obligations when faced with practical needs, and emphasizes that true faith requires consistent prioritization of Allah's commands in all aspects of life.
❓How did the pagans justify their unfair treatment of Allah's designated share?
The polytheists rationalized their unfair practices by claiming that Allah was 'independent' (ghani) and didn't need their offerings, while their idols were 'in need' and required full provision. This false reasoning allowed them to redirect Allah's portion to idols or personal use while maintaining the idols' share intact. However, this logic revealed their fundamental misunderstanding of worship - that offerings are acts of gratitude and obedience to Allah, not charity to meet His needs.
❓What does Ibn Abbas's commentary reveal about the historical context of this verse?
Ibn Abbas's detailed commentary reveals that this was a widespread, systematic practice among pre-Islamic Arabs. They would physically separate their harvest into designated portions, creating elaborate rules that always favored idols. The historical context shows this wasn't occasional unfairness but institutionalized discrimination against Allah in favor of false deities. This practice was so normalized that they developed complex justifications for their bias, highlighting how deeply shirk had corrupted their understanding of proper worship and gratitude to their Creator.
Translations & Commentary
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