Eight Pairs of Cattle

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[Al-Quran, Surah az-Zumar, ayat 6]

...   وَاَنۡزَلَ لَـكُمۡ مِّنَ الۡاَنۡعَامِ ثَمٰنِيَةَ اَزۡوَاجٍ​  ...

Selected translation from corpus.quran.com

Yusuf Ali: He created you (all) from a single person: then created, of like nature, his mate; and he sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs: He makes you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. such is Allah, your Lord and Cherisher: to Him belongs (all) dominion. There is no god but He: then how are ye turned away (from your true Centre)?

Muhammad Sarwar: He has created you from a single soul. Out of this He created your spouse. He sent you eight pairs of cattle. He creates you for a second time in the wombs of your mothers behind three curtains of darkness. He is your Lord to whom belongs the Kingdom. He is the only Lord. Where then will you turn away?

Arberry: He created you of a single soul, then from it He appointed its mate; and He sent down to you of the cattle eight couples. He creates you in your mothers' wombs creation after creation in threefold shadows. That then is God, your Lord; to Him belongs the Kingdom; there is no god but He; so how are you turned about?

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The Quran informs us that cattle have been especially sent down for us. Just like Adam was sent down, just like water was sent down, just like iron was sent to Earth. Cattle have specially been created for humans. They are different from wild animals not only in that they are domesticated, but also because eight pairs are not native to this Earth. They have been sent for humans, and subjugated for humans, so that they can be easily domesticated and eaten.  

Eight pairs of cattle were sent down. They are listed in Surah al-Anam (The Cattle): 

۞ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ مَّعْرُوشَـٰتٍۢ وَغَيْرَ مَعْرُوشَـٰتٍۢ وَٱلنَّخْلَ وَٱلزَّرْعَ مُخْتَلِفًا أُكُلُهُۥ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلرُّمَّانَ مُتَشَـٰبِهًۭا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَـٰبِهٍۢ ۚ كُلُوا۟ مِن ثَمَرِهِۦٓ إِذَآ أَثْمَرَ وَءَاتُوا۟ حَقَّهُۥ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ ١٤١

He it is Who produceth gardens trellised and untrellised, and the date-palm, and crops of divers flavour, and the olive and the pomegranate, like and unlike. Eat ye of the fruit thereof when it fruiteth, and pay the due thereof upon the harvest day, and be not prodigal. Lo! Allah loveth not the prodigals.

— M. Pickthall

It is He Who produceth gardens, with trellises and without, and dates, and tilth with produce of all kinds, and olives and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in variety): eat of their fruit in their season, but render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered. But waste not by excess: for Allah loveth not the wasters.

— A. Yusuf Ali

وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ حَمُولَةًۭ وَفَرْشًۭا ۚ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۭ مُّبِينٌۭ ١٤٢

And of the cattle (He produceth) some for burdens, some for food. Eat of that which Allah hath bestowed upon you, and follow not the footsteps of the devil, for lo! he is an open foe to you.

— M. Pickthall

Of the cattle are some for burden and some for meat: eat what Allah hath provided for you, and follow not the footsteps of Satan: for he is to you and avowed enemy.

— A. Yusuf Ali

ثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَزْوَٰجٍۢ ۖ مِّنَ ٱلضَّأْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَمِنَ ٱلْمَعْزِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۗ قُلْ ءَآلذَّكَرَيْنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ أَمَّا ٱشْتَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْحَامُ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۖ نَبِّـُٔونِى بِعِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ١٤٣

Eight pairs: Of the sheep twain, and of the goats twain. Say: Hath He forbidden the two males or the two females, or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Expound to me (the case) with knowledge, if ye are truthful.

— M. Pickthall

(Take) eight (head of cattle) in (four) pairs: of sheep a pair, and of goats a pair; say, hath He forbidden the two males, or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? Tell me with knowledge if ye are truthful:

— A. Yusuf Ali

وَمِنَ ٱلْإِبِلِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَمِنَ ٱلْبَقَرِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۗ قُلْ ءَآلذَّكَرَيْنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ أَمَّا ٱشْتَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْحَامُ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۖ أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَآءَ إِذْ وَصَّىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا ۚ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًۭا لِّيُضِلَّ ٱلنَّاسَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ١٤٤

And of the camels twain and of the oxen twain. Say: Hath He forbidden the two males or the two females, or that which the wombs of the two females contain; or were ye by to witness when Allah commanded you (all) this? Then who doth greater wrong than he who deviseth a lie concerning Allah, that he may lead mankind astray without knowledge. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.

— M. Pickthall

Of camels a pair, and oxen a pair; say, hath He forbidden the two males, or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? - Were ye present when Allah ordered you such a thing? But who doth more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah, to lead astray men without knowledge? For Allah guideth not people who do wrong.

— A. Yusuf Ali

قُل لَّآ أَجِدُ فِى مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَىٰ طَاعِمٍۢ يَطْعَمُهُۥٓ إِلَّآ أَن يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًۭا مَّسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنزِيرٍۢ فَإِنَّهُۥ رِجْسٌ أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ ۚ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍۢ وَلَا عَادٍۢ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ١٤٥

Say: I find not in that which is revealed unto me aught prohibited to an eater that he eat thereof, except it be carrion, or blood poured forth, or swineflesh - for that verily is foul - or the abomination which was immolated to the name of other than Allah. But whoso is compelled (thereto), neither craving nor transgressing, (for him) lo! thy Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.

— M. Pickthall

Say: "I find not in the message received by me by inspiration any (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be dead meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine,- for it is an abomination - or, what is impious, (meat) on which a name has been invoked, other than Allah's". But (even so), if a person is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- thy Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

— A. Yusuf Ali

[Al-Quran 6:141-145]

Allah has produced cattle from the Earth, and He has sent down cattle especially from the sky. The eight pairs of cattle especially sent for food are the ones we are to offer as sacrifice as well, as a token of gratitude and as a means of closeness to Allah. [related links below under Also read:]

Fossil Record 

Scientific fossil studies indicate that domestication of cattle occurred around the same time as agriculture, a few thousand years ago, tallying with the Abrahamic belief that Adam and his progeny have been around for a similar number of years, to serve the sentence of tilling the land. 

The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia, Aurochs [copied on March 5, 2025]:

Domestication

[edit]

The earliest-known domestication of the aurochs dates to the Neolithic Revolution in the Fertile Crescent, where cattle hunted and kept by Neolithic farmers gradually decreased in size between 9800 and 7500 BC. Aurochs bones found at Mureybet and Göbekli Tepe are larger in size than cattle bones from later Neolithic settlements in northern Syria like Dja'de el-Mughara and Tell Halula.^[96] In Late Neolithic sites of northern Iraq and western Iran dating to the sixth millennium BC, cattle remains are also smaller but more frequent, indicating that domesticated cattle were imported during the Halaf culture from the central Fertile Crescent region.^[97] Results of genetic research indicate that the modern taurine cattle (Bos taurus) arose from 80 aurochs tamed in southeastern Anatolia and northern Syria about 10,500 years ago.^[15] ... 

 

 

Also read: 

The Sustainer of the Worlds (رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ) 

With Our Hands 

The Blessing of Cattle 

Ignorant of The Law of Sacrifice 

Women worship & Cattle Ears 

The Beginning of Agriculture 

The Conditional Pardon 

 

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The Blessing of Cattle

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًۭا لِّيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۗ فَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ فَلَهُۥٓ أَسْلِمُوا۟ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُخْبِتِينَ ٣٤

[Translation: Dr Mustafa Khattab] For every community We appointed a rite of sacrifice so that they may pronounce the Name of Allah over the sacrificial animals He has provided for them. For your God is only One God, so submit yourselves to Him ˹alone˺. And give good news ˹O Prophet˺ to the humble: 

[Translation: Pickthall] And for every nation have We appointed a ritual, that they may mention the name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He hath given them for food; and your god is One God, therefor surrender unto Him. And give good tidings (O Muhammad) to the humble, 

[Al-Quran, Surah al-Hajj Ayat 34] 

The Quran informs us that all religions have been appointed rituals to celebrate the blessing of cattle. Though religious scriptures ordain animal sacrifice, presently Muslims and Hindus perform their ritual of cattle sacrifice. 

Among the Abrahamic religions, the Jews stopped offering sacrifice after their Temple of Solomon was destroyed completely. The Christians have absolved themselves of the Law.  

Muslim pilgrims offer the ritual sacrifice during the annual pilgrimage, the Hajj, to the Kaaba, the Ancient House. Many Muslims the world over also offer cattle sacrifice on the tenth of Dhu al Hijjah, which is the annual celebration called Eid al Adha. 

Cattle are assets, valuable possessions, containing many benefits and are a source of much wealth. 

Many human needs are provided through cattle: meat for food, and milk to drink and make yogurt, to extract butter, and cooking fat; hide and fur for clothing and shelter; their strength for tilling the land, carrying loads, riding upon, and so on and so forth. Even their dung is useful as manure, in cooling mud huts, and for making biogas. 

Cattle have been especially created for humans, and they have been subjugated to humans. 

Humans have been especially created to worship Allah ﷻ , and they have been granted the free-will to willingly submit to Him. 

While Allah ﷻ  provides so many benefit through cattle to humans, He expects gratitude in return. 

Allah ﷻ  has appointed rituals of cattle sacrifice for each nation. Humans are expected to sacrifice precious cattle on appointed days to eat and share, and especially feed those who cannot afford to purchase meat. 

Allah ﷻ  has ordained that Allah ﷻ  ’s name must be pronounced whenever slaughtering cattle, whether it be the annual ritual of sacrifice offerings or regular eating throughout the year. Also, it is not permitted to eat the meat of animals when Allah ﷻ  ’s name has not been pronounced while slaughtering, or if someone else’s name has been pronounced along with or instead of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎  

The triliteral root nūn ʿayn mīm (ن ع م) occurs 140 times in the Quran, in nine derived forms. Most of the words formed from this root are translated as good, excellent, bestowed, favour, grace, pleasant things, delight, bliss, joyful, and around thirty three times as cattle, as can be seen at https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=nEm#(3:14:15), and 

• 33 times as the noun naʿam (نَّعَم) 

Noun

(3:14:15) wal-anʿāmi	and [the] cattle	وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنْطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ
(4:119:6) l-anʿāmi	(of) the cattle	وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ آذَانَ الْأَنْعَامِ
(5:1:9) l-anʿāmi	(of) the grazing livestock	أُحِلَّتْ لَكُمْ بَهِيمَةُ الْأَنْعَامِ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ مُحِلِّي الصَّيْدِ
(5:95:18) l-naʿami	the cattle	وَمَنْ قَتَلَهُ مِنْكُمْ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاءٌ مِثْلُ مَا قَتَلَ مِنَ النَّعَمِ
(6:136:7) wal-anʿāmi	and the cattle	وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ مِمَّا ذَرَأَ مِنَ الْحَرْثِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ نَصِيبًا
(6:138:3) anʿāmun	(are) cattle	وَقَالُوا هَٰذِهِ أَنْعَامٌ وَحَرْثٌ حِجْرٌ لَا يَطْعَمُهَا إِلَّا مَنْ نَشَاءُ بِزَعْمِهِمْ
(6:138:12) wa-anʿāmun	And cattle	وَأَنْعَامٌ حُرِّمَتْ ظُهُورُهَا
(6:138:15) wa-anʿāmun	and cattle	وَأَنْعَامٌ لَا يَذْكُرُونَ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا افْتِرَاءً عَلَيْهِ
(6:139:6) l-anʿāmi	cattle	وَقَالُوا مَا فِي بُطُونِ هَٰذِهِ الْأَنْعَامِ خَالِصَةٌ لِذُكُورِنَا
(6:142:2) l-anʿāmi	the cattle	وَمِنَ الْأَنْعَامِ حَمُولَةً وَفَرْشًا
(7:179:24) kal-anʿāmi	(are) like cattle	أُولَٰئِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ
(10:24:16) wal-anʿāmu	and the cattle	فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ وَالْأَنْعَامُ
(16:5:1) wal-anʿāma	And the cattle	وَالْأَنْعَامَ خَلَقَهَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا دِفْءٌ وَمَنَافِعُ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
(16:66:4) l-anʿāmi	the cattle	وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِي الْأَنْعَامِ لَعِبْرَةً
(16:80:11) l-anʿāmi	(of) the cattle	وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنْ جُلُودِ الْأَنْعَامِ بُيُوتًا تَسْتَخِفُّونَهَا يَوْمَ ظَعْنِكُمْ
(20:54:3) anʿāmakum	your cattle	كُلُوا وَارْعَوْا أَنْعَامَكُمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِأُولِي النُّهَىٰ
(22:28:15) l-anʿāmi	(of) cattle	وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُمْ مِنْ بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ
(22:30:13) l-anʿāmu	the cattle	وَأُحِلَّتْ لَكُمُ الْأَنْعَامُ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ
(22:34:13) l-anʿāmi	(of) cattle	وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنْسَكًا لِيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُمْ مِنْ بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ
(23:21:4) l-anʿāmi	the cattle	وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِي الْأَنْعَامِ لَعِبْرَةً نُسْقِيكُمْ مِمَّا فِي بُطُونِهَا
(25:44:11) kal-anʿāmi	like cattle	إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا
(25:49:8) anʿāman	cattle	لِنُحْيِيَ بِهِ بَلْدَةً مَيْتًا وَنُسْقِيَهُ مِمَّا خَلَقْنَا أَنْعَامًاوَأَنَاسِيَّ كَثِيرًا
(26:133:2) bi-anʿāmin	with cattle	أَمَدَّكُمْ بِأَنْعَامٍ وَبَنِينَ
(32:27:14) anʿāmuhum	their cattle	فَنُخْرِجُ بِهِ زَرْعًا تَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ أَنْعَامُهُمْ وَأَنْفُسُهُمْ
(35:28:4) wal-anʿāmi	and the cattle	وَمِنَ النَّاسِ وَالدَّوَابِّ وَالْأَنْعَامِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ كَذَٰلِكَ
(36:71:9) anʿāman	cattle	أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُمْ مِمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَا أَنْعَامًا فَهُمْ لَهَا مَالِكُونَ
(39:6:12) l-anʿāmi	the cattle	وَأَنْزَلَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَنْعَامِ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَزْوَاجٍ
(40:79:5) l-anʿāma	the cattle	اللَّهُ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَنْعَامَ لِتَرْكَبُوا مِنْهَا وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
(42:11:10) l-anʿāmi	the cattle	جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَمِنَ الْأَنْعَامِ أَزْوَاجًا
(43:12:9) wal-anʿāmi	and the cattle	وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الْفُلْكِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ مَا تَرْكَبُونَ
(47:12:19) l-anʿāmu	the cattle	وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يَتَمَتَّعُونَ وَيَأْكُلُونَ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ الْأَنْعَامُ
(79:33:3) wali-anʿāmikum	and for your cattle	مَتَاعًا لَكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَامِكُمْ
(80:32:3) wali-anʿāmikum	and for your cattle	مَتَاعًا لَكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَامِكُمْ

Related Posts 

The Hajj 

Thunderbolts

With Our Hands  

Natural Clothing 

The Ancient House 

Gratitude Reminders

Gratitude for our Food 

Women worship & Cattle Ears 

Ignorant of The Law of Sacrifice 

Complete List of Everything Halal 

The Destruction of The Masjid of Solomon 

Blood forbidden, or only the blood poured forth 

The Quran, the Pharaoh, Exodus and the Promised Day!  

No ilah but Allah لا إله إلا الله 

Forehead / جَبِين 

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Last updated on: June 28, 2023

With Our Hands

Cattle and Robots 

 قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Say, "He (is) Allah, the One.

Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute.

Not He begets and not He is begotten.

And not is for Him equivalent any [one]."

[Al-Quran 112]

There is no ilah except Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ , the one and only God. The Quran is very very clear on this. The Quran also mentions some creation tasks performed through others. 

In Surah Yasin we read: 

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِّمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَآ أَنْعَـٰمًۭا فَهُمْ لَهَا مَـٰلِكُونَ ٧١ 

Do they not see that We singlehandedly created for them, among other things, cattle which are under their control? 

وَذَلَّلْنَـٰهَا لَهُمْ فَمِنْهَا رَكُوبُهُمْ وَمِنْهَا يَأْكُلُونَ ٧٢ 

And We have subjected these ˹animals˺ to them, so they may ride some and eat others.

وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مَنَـٰفِعُ وَمَشَارِبُ ۖ أَفَلَا يَشْكُرُونَ ٧٣

And they derive from them other benefits and drinks. Will they not then give thanks?

[ Al-Quran, Surah Yasin, ayaat 71-73]

Cattle have been especially created to provide for many needs of humans: carrying loads, tilling the land, milk and meat, material for clothing and tents, and so on. All that is expected in return is gratitude for this special blessing. 

Cattle have been created by those tasked with some creation tasks by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎  ( kindly read explanation at the bottom of this post in the note titled: THE CREATOR  I and THE CREATORS WE ). 

Robots are being built by humans to assist in many tasks. 

Cattle are a carbon-based biological creation. 

Robots are silicone-based artificial invention. 

Cattle go through the cycle of life and death. 

Robots are manufactured, and thus do not have a biological lifecycle. 

Cattle mate to procreate their kind. 

Robots do not have the ability to procreate, at least, not yet. 

Cattle sleep and wake up. 

Robots can be switched on and switched off. 

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As humans advance technologically, more and more frontiers are being conquered. Humans have been granted the intellect to study and learn, and apply that knowledge. Adam عليه السلام and his progeny have been bestowed the responsibility of Khilafat. Their job is to rule with equitable justice, establish and uphold Allah ﷻ ’s Deen (legal system), and to remove oppression and corruption. We have to take care that Allah ﷻ ’s Deen is not violated by any of our technology. The power and the knowledge bestowed upon us is a trust (ٱلْأَمَانَةَ). We must always remember that our purpose is to humbly serve Allah ﷻ as we have been created to serve Allah ﷻ 

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The following is an excerpt from  Human: Body or Soul? 

THE CREATOR  I and THE CREATORS WE 

بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ

 أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُ صَاحِبَةٌ

 وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Originator (of) the heavens and the earth. 

How can be for Him a son while not (there) is for Him a companion, 

and He created every thing? And He (is) of every thing All-Knower. 

[Al-Quran 6:101] 

The Quran uses various words to inform us that it is Allah who has conceived, designed, originated, created and increases in creation, governs, sustains; and it is Allah to whom the Kingdom of the heavens and earth belongs. Therefore, Allah is the only Deity (ilah) and He alone is worthy of worship. Everything else is created, and no matter how great a task any created being may be entrusted with, everyone and everything, except Allah, is created and is serving Allah. 

2:117 informs us that Allah is بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ

7:54 informs us that اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ 

35:1 informs us that الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ 

If we look at the usage of these words across the Quran, we find that 'badee' and 'fatara' are used exclusively as the acts of Allah, while 'khalaqa' is used for Allah and other beings. I think 'badee' means Inventor of creation, while 'fatara' means Separator of creation into individual units/beings.      

Quran search results: 

ba-dal-ayn http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=bdE

fa-ta-ra http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=fTr 

kha-lam-qaf http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=xlq 

Moreover, wherever the act of creation is referred to using the root letters [kha-lam-qaf], it seems to imply creating something from something: humans are created from 'teen', jinns are created from 'naar', and probably [kha-lam-qaf] implies and/or allows for creation after a set pattern. Even where Jesus' miraculous ability to create a bird from 'teen' is mentioned, the root [kha-lam-qaf] is used, and it is clearly mentioned that Jesus was able to do so by Allah's permission (Q3:49, Q5:110). 

I understand that in the grand governance of the heavens and earth, Allah has created some beings with mighty powers and entrusted some of the task of creation [kha-lam-qaf] to them. It seems that they are also entrusted with preparing the scriptures. However, Al-Quran 10:37 clarifies:

وَمَا كَانَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنُ أَن يُفْتَرَىٰ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ

 وَلَٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ الْكِتَابِ

 لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

And not is this the Quran, that (it could be) produced by other than Allah, 

but (it is) a confirmation (of that) which (was) before it and a detailed explanation (of) the Book,

 (there is) no doubt in it, from (the) Lord (of) the worlds. 

So, I infer that the acts of creation, and the preparation and revelation of the scriptures are all done under the instruction, guidance, supervision and control of Allah. Creation belongs to Allah and the scriptures are from Allah for our guidance. Al-Quran 2:252 states:

These (are the) ayaat (of) Allah, 

We recite them to you in [the] truth. 

And indeed, you (are) surely of the Messengers.  

Al-Quran 4:163-166 states: 

Indeed, We have revealed to you as We revealed to Nuh and the Prophets after him, and We revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail, and Ishaq and Yaqub, and the tribes, and Isa and Ayyub, and Yunus, and Harun and Sulaiman and We gave (to) Dawood the Zaboor.
And Messengers surely We (have) mentioned them to you before and Messengers not We (have) mentioned them to you. And Allah spoke (to) Musa (in a) conversation.
Messengers, bearers of glad tidings and warners, so that not there is for the mankind against Allah any argument after the Messengers. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.
But Allah bears witness to what He (has) revealed to you. He has sent it down with His Knowledge and the Angels bear witness. And Allah is sufficient (as) a Witness.

However, that does not make these beings gods, nor do they ask to be taken as 'ilah' instead of Allah. Rather, they reiterate across the Quran that there is only one God (ilah). They do not make themselves known to us by their names or forms. In Al-Quran 37:164-166, they state:

وَمَا مِنَّا إِلَّا لَهُ مَقَامٌ مَّعْلُومٌ

وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الصَّافُّونَ

وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْمُسَبِّحُونَ

"And not among us except for him (is) a position known. 

And indeed, we surely, [we] stand in rows. 

And indeed, we surely, [we] glorify (Allah)." 

As for polytheism, it is stated very clearly in the Quran that those who the polytheists take as their gods are nothing but Jinns (dJinns or genies), and that the Jinns are not the creators, nor do they have any such power or ability to make them worthy of any deification, worship or obedience. 

In fact, in the story of Adam, whom Allah created Himself, the Quran is very clear that Adam was honoured because of the knowledge that Allah endowed him with, and those with lesser knowledge were asked to submit/prostrate to Adam. When Iblis was questioned why he didn't obey God, Allah is quoted thus: He said, [Al-Quran 38:75]

قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ

 أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْعَالِينَ

"O Iblis! What prevented you that you (should) prostrate to (one) whom I created with My Hands? Are you arrogant or are you of the exalted ones?"  

Surah al-Jinn is very clear about the condition of the Jinns, how the secrets of the heavens are protected and they prevented from it, and that whenever Allah sends any message through a chosen messenger, Allah ensures that the messenger and the messages are well-guarded, protected, brought and delivered.  

And Allah knows best. 

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Also consider the following excerpt from  The Creation & Emergence of Species: 

Jinns & Humans 

خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ

وَخَلَقَ الْجَانَّ مِن مَّارِجٍ مِّن نَّارٍ

He created the man from clay like the pottery.
And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.

[Al-Quran 55:14-15]

Based upon the ability of organisms to internally produce heat or depend upon external sources to regulate their body temperature, they are classified as endotherms and ectotherms: endotherms such as humans thermoregulate their body temperature; ectotherms, on the other hand, depend on their environment to heat or cool down their bodies, such as snakes and other reptiles. 

The Age of Reptiles

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ

وَالْجَانَّ خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن قَبْلُ مِن نَّارِ السَّمُومِ

And verily, We created humankind (out) of sounding clay from black mud altered.

And the jinn We created it before from fire scorching.

[Al-Quran 15:26-27] 

The Quran states that in this world the jinns were created before humans. Jinns, I understand, are Snakes, as discussed in detail in جَانٌّ (Snake || Jinn). According to fossil records, the reptiles appeared on the Earth much before the mammals.

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No ilah but Allah لا إله إلا الله 

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