What is the meaning of the word ''Al-An'am'' in Surah Al-An'am?

account_box
Syntactica Sophia
2 years ago

Al-An'am is the title of the sixth chapter (Surah) of the Quran, which consists of 165 verses. The word 'Al-An'am' is an Arabic term which means 'The Cattle' or 'The Livestock'. The chapter contains several stories and teachings, and its main themes include the oneness of God, the importance of belief in the prophets, and the concept of accountability and responsibility.

The chapter gets its name from a story mentioned in verses 136-137, in which some people asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) why God did not make certain animals, such as camels and cows, forbidden for consumption. The response was that these animals were made permissible for food, and their milk and meat were a blessing from God. Thus, the word 'cattle' or 'livestock' is mentioned several times throughout the chapter.