CATTLE, NAY EVEN MORE ASTRAY

This morning I didn’t have breakfast, just drink cold Bear Brand. It’s cow’s milk with a bear brand and a dragon in its advertisement. So refreshing!

This milk is one of the products of al-an’am (cattle). Actually, when Allah speaks about cattle, which specific animals is He referring to?

The first specification, Allah mentions that He created al-an’am 8 in pairs (meaning 4 pairs from 4 types of animals). We can find this in Surah Az-Zumar: 6.

خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٖ وَٰحِدَةٖ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۡهَا زَوۡجَهَا وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ ثَمَٰنِيَةَ أَزۡوَٰجٖۚ يَخۡلُقُكُمۡ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمۡ خَلۡقٗا مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ خَلۡقٖ فِي ظُلُمَٰتٖ ثَلَٰثٖۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡ لَهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصۡرَفُونَ

“He created you from one soul. Then He made from it its mate, and He produced for you from the grazing livestock eight mates. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, within three darknesses. That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs dominion. There is no deity except Him, so how are you averted?”

The second specification, Allah details what is meant by these 8 pairs in Surah al-An'am: 143-144.

ثَمَٰنِيَةَ أَزۡوَٰجٖۖ مِّنَ ٱلضَّأۡنِ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ وَمِنَ ٱلۡمَعۡزِ ٱثۡنَيۡنِۗ قُلۡ ءَآلذَّكَرَيۡنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِ أَمَّا ٱشۡتَمَلَتۡ عَلَيۡهِ أَرۡحَامُ ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِۖ نَبُِّٔونِي بِعِلۡمٍ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ وَمِنَ ٱلۡإِبِلِ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ وَمِنَ ٱلۡبَقَرِ ٱثۡنَيۡنِۗ قُلۡ ءَآلذَّكَرَيۡنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِ أَمَّا ٱشۡتَمَلَتۡ عَلَيۡهِ أَرۡحَامُ ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِۖ أَمۡ كُنتُمۡ شُهَدَآءَ إِذۡ وَصَّىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِهَٰذَاۚ فَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبٗا لِّيُضِلَّ ٱلنَّاسَ بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٍۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

“ [They are] eight mates - of the sheep, two and of the goats, two. Say, "Is it the two males He has forbidden or the two females or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Inform me with knowledge, if you should be truthful."

“ And of the camels, two and of the cattle, two. Say, "Is it the two males He has forbidden or the two females or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Or were you witnesses when Allah charged you with this? Then who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah to mislead the people by [something] other than knowledge? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people."

So, these 4 animals are what Allah is referring to when He mentions "al-an’am" in the Qur'an. This is also an example of the intertextual explanation method or one verse explaining another verse. Let us get accustomed to using the method that the Qur'an itself shows. (ABU MUSA)

I once asked when a scholar explained that a hardened heart is an obstacle to knowing Allah. I asked, how do we define a hardened heart? The scholar responded that it’s an unwillingness to accept the truth. I then thought, isn’t the truth accepted by the brain, not by the heart/liver/heart? Or is the scholar referring to the heart as imagination or fantasy? This is what causes many Muslims to misunderstand the text of the Qur'an, as this pattern has been formed by a system, either through the text (translations) or concepts (doctrines). Today, many people tend to follow that flow, or many people do so without thinking, as if they do not use the mind that Allah has given them. After all, humans are endowed with a more perfect brain than other creatures, such as cattle. These cattle, according to the Qur'an and as proven by facts, always follow the pattern or direction shown by their herd without thinking (using their brain).

On the other hand, humans have a brain that serves the function of thinking, understanding, and weighing (tadabbur). Following the crowd without mature thought will only show the inability to use the brain’s function well. What many people do is not always correct. Many people can fall into misguidance simply by following the habits or views of the majority without examining the truth and values behind them.

Because in the end, we are the ones who will be held accountable for our choices and actions before Allah. We cannot shift that responsibility to others or to the majority’s opinion.

Therefore, we should not be trapped in following what is popular without considering whether it aligns with the truth or the true purpose of our life. The brain given to us should be a tool to reflect and assess every decision, not just follow what others do. We should strive to choose the right path, even though it may not always be easy or popular. (Abu Musa)

CASE STUDY

Yesterday, when I shared an article about cattle in the perspective of the Qur'an with a few friends, some of them asked about the discussion. Perhaps this debate will add some new insights for us. Here are the excerpts.

Question 1

My Friend: "So, besides the 4 animals mentioned, is it allowed or is that just a metaphor for animals that are permissible to eat?"

Abu Musa: "The cattle mentioned in the Qur'an are only 4. Anything else needs qiyas (analogy) compared to these 4 cattle, such as by consumption (food) and the method of consumption (how they are eaten). This rule is fully done by the brain/heart, not the liver/heart. From this, Muslims should be able to conclude."

My Friend: "I still don’t get it, what’s the connection between cattle and the brain or heart?" 😝

Abu Musa: "So, in Islam, there is qiyas, which means analogy. Things in life that are not mentioned in the Qur'an are compared with what is in the Qur'an. For example, these 4 cattle. They share 3 similarities: 1. They walk on 4 legs, 2. They eat leaves and grass (herbivores), 3. Their way of eating is not predatory (they don’t scratch or attack). So, other animals that share these 3 traits, like horses, deer, rabbits, buffalo, etc., are allowed to eat and take benefit from. If they don’t share all 3 traits, they are forbidden unless there is a rukhsah (dispensation) in an emergency. To make this conclusion, you need to use your brain, not your heart. This is what is meant by Qolbu."

My Friend: "Oh, okay. I see, thanks for explaining it in detail."

Question 2

My Friend: "A hardened heart might have no light or guidance because it has done too much evil, so that’s correct, right?"

Abu Musa: "It should be the brain that is hardened, not the heart. Because good deeds are produced by the brain’s work, as the brain does the reflection/tadabbur to distinguish between right and wrong, which then affects actions. But good deeds also need affirmation from God because not every conclusion or reflection made by the brain about what is right is also approved by God. And the tool for that affirmation is the Qur'an."

My Friend: "Hehehe, maybe it’s because I’m used to the proverb. So, it should be a hardened brain, though it sounds a bit awkward to hear."

Abu Musa: "Yes, that’s part of the qhazwulfikr you were looking for earlier. There are indeed groups with an interest in distancing Muslims from using their minds so that they remain ignorant. This separates religious teachings from worldly knowledge, so the concept of God and the concept of life are separated. For example, in education: if you want to study Islam, go to a pesantren (Islamic boarding school), but if you go to a regular school, you won’t learn Islam. This has been in place for a very long time."

My Friend: "That’s true, sometimes the meaning and explanation that would be more beneficial is obscured by language."

From this, my friend understood and realized that sometimes a discussion about a subject needs debate, because not everyone is able to understand it as we do. Sometimes we also need metaphors/analogies. This discussion ended with my friend’s desire to study offline. Hopefully, it will be realized, Ameen. But if not, I will make sure the material reaches you.

(Abu Musa)