| Pain, Pleasure and Prejudice The Complete Layman’s Guide to the Koran Cattle Cattle, in the Koran, are mentioned more often, usually in conjunction with something Allah has done for men, than any other animal, even the camel. It is obvious that Allah is extremely proud, if not mesmerized by this four-legged versatile creation of His. Even when giving instructions as what to do before and during Islam’s most sacred ritual, cattle are on Allah’s mind. 22:29 Then, let them complete their self-cleansing and fulfill their vows and circle round the Ancient House (the Ka’bah). 22:30 All that; and whoever venerates the sacred things of Allah, it shall be well for him with His Lord. Cattle have been made lawful to you, except what is recited to you [to avoid]: so shun the abomination of idols, and shun false testimony. Children and cattle, in the same revelation, as gifts from Allah. Can the importance of cattle to Allah be any more clear! 26:131 “So fear Allah and obey me (Muhammad); 26:132 “And fear Him, Who imparted to you whatever knowledge you have. 26:133 “He granted you cattle and children; 26:134 “And gardens and springs. 26:135 “I certainly fear for you the punishment of a Great Day.” An Ode to Cattle 16:5 And the cattle He created for you. Therein are warmth and other advantages, and from them you eat. 16:6 An in them you witness beauty, when you bring them back [home], and when you drive them out for pasture. 16:7 And they carry your burdens to a distant land which you could only reach with great hardship. Surely your Lord is Clement and Merciful. Domesticated in Paradise Cattle were probably domesticated in heaven by Allah or His angels; my understanding of subdued in revelation 36:72: 36:71 Have they not seen that We have created for them, of Our Handiwork, cattle whereof they are now the owners? 36:72 And We subdued them to them, so that of some are their mounts and of some they eat. 36:73 And from them they have many benefits and beverages. Will they not, then, give thanks. He sent a small herd of sixteen of the ruminants down from Paradise (eight males and eight females) after He created Adam and his wife. A sensible thing to do, cattle being so versatile. One interpretation of "the three shadows of darkness" in revelation 39:6 (also translated as "veils of darkness") is 1) the anterior abdominal wall, 2) the uterine wall, and 3) the amniochorionic membrane. The idea that Allah knew so much about embryology is considered another miracle of the Koran. 39:6 He created you from a single soul; then, out of it, He made its mate, and He brought down for you of the cattle eight pairs. He creates you in your mothers' bellies, one creation after another, in three shadows of darkness. That is indeed Allah, your Lord. His is the dominion; there is no god but He. How, then, are your diverted? Allah confirming that, like Adam and his wife, He sent down His cattle in pairs. 42:11 Creator of the heavens and earth. Of yourselves He has made couples and of the cattle pairs, multiplying you thereby. Nothing is like unto Him; He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. Not Adam and his wife, but their progeny turned out to be an ungrateful lot. Instead of being grateful they worshiped an army of other gods, the “troops” in revelation 36:75. 36:74 Yet, they have taken, apart from Allah, other gods that they might receive support. 36:75 But they cannot support them, although they are arrayed as troops for them. Water, Men and Cattle Often when water is mentioned it is so that Allah's cattle will have something to drink and something to eat – as will the men of course. The first mention of water and cattle includes a warning about a god who strikes when you least expect it. 10:24 The present life is like water We send down from the sky, causing the vegetation of the earth, from which people and cattle eat, to grow luxuriant. But when the earth puts on its ornamental garb and is adorned, and the people think they are able to get what they want from it, Our Retribution comes upon it day or night, making it produce like a cropped harvest, as if it had never flourished before. Thus We expound Our Revelations to people who reflect. A trio of revelations about water, vegetation, cattle and their owners which end in a revelation not unlike the “dust to dust” verse of Genesis 3:19. 20:53 He who made the earth a bed for you, and opened routes for you in it, and sent down water from the sky; from it we bring forth diverse pairs of plants. 20:54 Eat and pasture your cattle. In that there are signs for people of understanding. 20:55 From it We have created you, and into it We shall return you, and from it We shall raise you a second time. Water brought a dead town back to life in revelation 25:49. Other translations consulted refer to a “dead land”. This would explain why I did not find any speculations on this town’s name in secondary sources i.e. the hadiths (sayings and examples of the Prophet; Ahadith is often use to indicate the plural form but not here), scholarly articles or in Islamic literature. 25:48 And it is He Who sent the wind as good news before His Mercy; and We have sent down from heaven pure water, 25:49 To bring to life thereby a dead town, and give it to drink to such numerous cattle and humans as We have created. Water is for cattle and folk. 32:27 Do they not see that We conduct the water unto barren land bringing forth thereby vegetation, from which their cattle and their own folk? Do they not see, then? More water to create vegetation that herdsmen and cattle can enjoy; after which they may want to venture into the mountains where both can find rest and relaxation. 80:25 We have poured the water abundantly; 80:26 Then, We split the earth open; 80:27 Then caused the grain to grow therein, 80:28 Together with vines and green vegetation; 80:29 And olives and palm trees; 80:30 And gardens with dense trees, 80:31 And fruits and grass, 80:32 For your enjoyment and that of your cattle. ---- 79:32 And the mountains, He established firmly, 79:33 As a source of enjoyment for you and your cattle. Some are for Eating, Some for Ridding and Some for Making Tents 40:79 It is Allah Who created for you the cattle, so that some you may ride* and some you may eat. 40:80 And in them, you have other benefits as well; and upon them you may attain any need within your breasts. And upon them and upon the ships you may be borne along. The dead town again, and ships and cattle you can mount: 43:11 And Who sent down water from heaven in set measure; and so We revived therewith a dead town. Thus you shall be brought forth; 43:12 And Who created all the pairs and made for you such ships and cattle as you can mount. ---------------------- 16:8 And horses, mules and asses [He created] for you to mount, and as an adornment; and He creates what you do not know. ---------------------- 43:13 That you might sit upon their backs, then remember the Grace of your Lord when you are seated thereon and say: “Glory be to Him Who subjected this to us, whereas were not equal to it. 43:14 "And, surely, unto our Lord We shall return.” I did not know that cattle, or types or parts of cattle, were covered with wool. 16:80 Allah has made of your homes places for you to dwell in, and has made for you from the hides of cattle light houses to carry on the day of moving and on the day of settling down. And from their wools and their furs and their hair He [has made for you] furnishings and means of enjoyment for a while. More stuff, some of which may be made from cattle. 16:81 Allah has made for you from what He created, sunshades, and from the mountains, places of retreats, and has given you garments to protect you from the heat and coats of mail to protect you while fighting. Thus he perfects His blessings to you so that you may submit. More on the benefits of cattle and why vegetarians are unbelievers in: You Are What You Eat. Slicing the Ears of Cattle Herdsmen, at the time of the Prophet, marked livestock that was no longer suitable for breeding purposes, for example, by slicing an ear. Some would do this as a living offering to their god. Allah said that this was all the devil’s doing; and that Christians will not be forgiven for something that has nothing to do with cutting the ears of cattle. 4:116 Allah will not forgive associating [any other god] with Him, but will forgive anything less than that, to whomever He wills. He who associates [any other god] with Allah, has really gone very far astray! 4:117 Apart from Him, they only invoke (worship) the goddesses of Quraysh; they only invoke a rebellious devil*, 4:118 Cursed by Allah. For he (the Devil) said: “I shall take from your servants for myself a fixed number. 4:119 “And I will lead them astray, will raise their expectations and order them to cut off the cattle’s ears. I will order them to alter Allah’s creation.” Whoever takes the Devil for companion, instead of Allah , has incurred a great loss! 4:120 He promises them and raises their expectations; but the Devil promises them nothing but illusion. 4:121 Those people, their shelter shall be Hell and they shall find no escape from it. 4:122 But those who have believed and done the good deeds, We shall admit them into Gardens beneath which rivers flow, dwelling therein forever. This is Allah’s True Promise; and who is more truthful in speech than Allah? Scholars have interpreted Allah’s revelation about cutting cattle’s ears as a decree against cruelty to animals. The ears of animals is used by naturalists and biologists to tag wild animals as a means of keeping track of them because it is, as those who have had their ears pierced can testify, one of the least sensitive parts of the body of both animals and humans. If Allah had wanted to rail against cruelty to animals there are other animal husbandry practices that are much more painful. Still others claim that revelation 4:119 is another miracle of the Koran; that Allah was warning against cloning His creation i.e. genetic engineering. They base their claim on the fact that “cloning experiments are often done with cells taken from an animal’s ear.” The miracle of the Koran may be the miracles it inspires. ---- * The story of the goddesses of Quraysh and the rebellious devil is in Women and The Koran V - The Satanic Verses
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