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]
In Surah an-Nisa` (The Women), we read:
116.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا
Lo! Allah pardoneth not that partners should be ascribed unto Him. He pardoneth all save that to whom He will. Whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah hath wandered far astray.
117.
إِن يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا إِنَاثًا وَإِن يَدْعُونَ إِلَّا شَيْطَانًا مَّرِيدًا
They invoke in His stead only females; they pray to none else than Satan, a rebel
118.
لَّعَنَهُ اللَّهُ ۘ وَقَالَ لَأَتَّخِذَنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيبًا مَّفْرُوضًا
Whom Allah cursed, and he said: Surely I will take of Thy bondmen an appointed portion,
119.
وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ آذَانَ الْأَنْعَامِ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ الشَّيْطَانَ وَلِيًّا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًا مُّبِينًا
And surely I will lead them astray, and surely I will arouse desires in them, and surely I will command them and they will cut the cattle' ears, and surely I will command them and they will change Allah's creation. Whoso chooseth Satan for a patron instead of Allah is verily a loser and his loss is manifest.
120.
يَعِدُهُمْ وَيُمَنِّيهِمْ ۖ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا
Pickthall: He promiseth them and stirreth up desires in them, and Satan promiseth them only to beguile.
[ Al-Quran, Surah an-Nisa` 116-119, Translation: Pickthall]
The Quran is very, very clear that there is only one being worthy of worship, Allah ﷻ, and that ascribing partners to Him, is an unforgivable sin. Ascribing partners is wandering far astray from the true religion.
In the surah titled an-Nisa` (The Women), we are introduced to the polytheist worship of women. Looking up various mythologies, the
female divine is an almost universal feature across almost all religions. Q4:117 informs us that all those who worship divine feminine beings are actually worshipping none but Satan, who is a rebel.
Allah ﷻ exposed Iblis' arrogance when he refused to obey Allah ﷻ 's command to prostrate to Adam عليه السلام. When Allah ﷻ cursed (removed from His Mercy) the rebellious Satan Iblis, he said he will take from Allah ﷻ 's servants a portion. Elsewhere in The Quran, we read that Allah ﷻ has granted Satan limited license to try to mislead His servants.
Q4:119 quotes Satan, as to how he plans to mislead:
- And surely I will lead them astray,
- and surely I will arouse desires in them,
- and surely I will command them and they will cut the cattle' ears,
- and surely I will command them and they will change Allah's creation.
The ayat concludes with the clear warning:
Whoso chooseth Satan for a patron instead of Allah is verily a loser and his loss is manifest.
I have tried to understand the above ayat in several previous posts (links below). Recently, by the Grace of Allah
ﷻ , I received a new insight by searching for the link between 'divine goddess' and 'cattle ears'. Curiously, there exist ancient statues of goddesses with cow ears, such as
Hathor, and
Bat, of ancient Egypt. The Egyptians also considered the Milky Way to be a cosmic pool of divine milk, as do some other mythologies.
Cattle feature in all religions and mythology. Hybrid human-animal features appear in the pantheon of many mythologies. They have been revered since ancient times, and continue to be revered to this day. There have been many communal riots and violence over cows, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. While Muslims consider slaughtering cows and eating their meat permissible, polytheist-majority nations take religious offence against such rituals.
The Quran informs us that the Bani Israel took a calf for worship in Moses (Musa عليه السلام)' absence. Their misleader, as-Samiri, told them that this calf was their god, and the god of Moses, but Moses had forgotten (Q20:80-99).
The Quran informs us that cattle were especially created to carry burden, and for food (Q6:142), and that Allah ﷻ has prescribed for each religion its ritual of sacrifice (Q22:34).
Many polytheistic mythologies consider cattle, especially cows, holy.
They have various beliefs about what can / can not || should / should not be killed or consumed. India is a
modern-day example where cows are considered holy. The permission to slaughter cattle comes with restrictions, and may require a certificate. Article 48 of the Indian Constitution mandates the protection of the cow. Nepal is another example where cows are holy; however they used to slaughter buffaloes at specific Hindu festivals, but a ban was placed on the sacrifice in 2015. Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, China, Japan, Indonesia, all have a cow or beef related story.
In many parts of the world, across the ages, for religious, as well as agricultural purposes, cattle ears have also been marked as a visible sign of identification. Slitting the ears was a readily visible mark. Since the eighteenth century, ear tags are increasingly being preferred. The modern ear tags come with RFID technology.
The Quran on cow, cattle, and ritual sacrifice
Surah al-Baqarah (The Cow / Heifer) is the longest surah in The Quran. The first dua quoted in it is of Moses (Musa عليه السلام), when he told the Bani Israel to sacrifice a cow:
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا ۖ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ
And when Moses said unto his people: Lo! Allah commandeth you that ye sacrifice a cow, they said: Dost thou make game of us? He answered: Allah forbid that I should be among the foolish!
[Al-Quran, Surah al-Baqarah 67, Translation: Pickthall]
And remember Moses said to his people: "Allah commands that ye sacrifice a heifer." They said: "Makest thou a laughing-stock of us?" He said: "Allah save me from being an ignorant (fool)!"
[Al-Quran, Surah al-Baqarah 67, Translation: Yusuf Ali]
Allah ﷻ had rescued the Bani Israel from the Egyptians, who revered many gods and goddesses, including those related to cattle. They must have been familiar with the myth of the celestial cow, and the deities worshipped as its manifestation. They knew that the polytheists considered cows holy. The Bani Israel tried to avoid the sacrifice of a cow by putting up questions regarding the details, till they eventually had no choice but to carry out the command (Q2:67-74). Noteworthy is the fact that this command comes after the Exodus. Also noteworthy is the fact that the Bani Israel had taken the golden calf for worship (Q2:51-54), when Moses (Musa عليه السلام) went up Mount Sinai for forty nights.
Surah al-Maidah (The Table Spread)'s very first ayat includes the command about all cattle being lawful for food, and concludes with the statement that Allah ﷻ orders what He Wills. ... the next few ayaat detail the commands regarding animals for food, and include the statement that 'this day Allah has perfected your religion for you, ... '. Religion means the law of recompense. The mention of this phrase in Q5:3 clearly refutes any and all polytheistic belief about the terrible eternal consequences of killing and/or eating cow meat.
Surah al-An'aam (The Cattle) instructs us to refrain from seeking a means against those whom the polytheists call upon:
وَلَا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّوا اللَّهَ عَدْوًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَّا لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ عَمَلَهُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِم مَّرْجِعُهُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Revile not those unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully revile Allah through ignorance. Thus unto every nation have We made their deed seem fair. Then unto their Lord is their return, and He will tell them what they used to do.
[Al-Quran, Surah al-An'aam 108, Translation: Pickthall]
After explaining why, Surah al-An'aam (The Cattle) commands the believers to eat of that on which Allah ﷻ 's name has been pronounced (Q6:118). The surah refutes all superstitions about cattle, and it clearly lists the only four things forbidden to consume:
قُل لَّا أَجِدُ فِي مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَىٰ طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ إِلَّا أَن يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَّسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُ رِجْسٌ أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ ۚ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
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.
[Al-Quran, Surah al-An'aam 145, Translation: Pickthall]
Say: I do not find in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden for an eater to eat of except that it be what has died of itself, or blood poured forth, or flesh of swine-- for that surely is unclean-- or that which is a transgression, other than (the name of) Allah having been invoked on it; but whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring nor exceeding the limit, then surely your Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.
[Al-Quran, Surah al-An'aam 145, Translation: Shakir]
The surah also lists what Allah ﷻ has forbidden / sanctified, clarifying that these are what comprise the correct religion (Q6:151-152).
The surah concludes with a note about the Abrahamic faith. To quote one of the last few ayaat:
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Say: Lo! my worship and my sacrifice and my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the Worlds.
[Al-Quran, Surah al-An'aam 162, Translation: Pickthall]
Surah Yusuf grants us insight into the faith of ancient Egypt, while refuting it in very clear terms, and clearly stating the true religion (the standing law of recompense) of the Abrahamic faith. Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) is quoted thus:
وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It never was for us to attribute aught as partner to Allah. This is of the bounty of Allah unto us (the seed of Abraham) and unto mankind; but most men give not thanks.
يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ أَأَرْبَابٌ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ
O my fellow-prisoners! Are divers lords better, or Allah the One, Almighty?
مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Those whom ye worship beside Him are but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers. Allah hath revealed no sanction for them. The decision rests with Allah only, Who hath commanded you that ye worship none save Him. This is the right religion, but most men know not.
[Al-Quran, Surah Yusuf 38-40, Translation: Pickthall]
Surah Yusuf relates Egypt's King's dream which no one could interpret:
وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ سَبْعَ بَقَرَاتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعَ سُنبُلَاتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَاتٍ ۖ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِي فِي رُؤْيَايَ إِن كُنتُمْ لِلرُّؤْيَا تَعْبُرُونَ
And the king said: Lo! I saw in a dream seven fat kine which seven lean were eating, and seven green ears of corn and other (seven) dry. O notables! Expound for me my vision, if ye can interpret dreams.
[Al-Quran, Surah Yusuf 43, Translation: Pickthall]
And the king (of Egypt) said: "Verily, I saw (in a dream) seven fat cows, whom seven lean ones were devouring, and seven green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry. O notables! Explain to me my dream, if it be that you can interpret dreams."
[Al-Quran, Surah Yusuf 43, Translation: Mohsin Khan]
Allah ﷻ blessed Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) with the correct interpretation. This clearly proved that it is only Allah ﷻ who controls the climate and Allah ﷻ controls the events that come to pass.
Surah an-Nahl (The Honey Bee) begins with the assurance that Allah ﷻ 's command is coming, and to not desire it to be hastened, and that Allah ﷻ is above all they associate with Him. ... The purposeful creation of cattle, and their various benefit to humans are mentioned in some detail. The milk from them is mentioned thus:
وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِي الْأَنْعَامِ لَعِبْرَةً ۖ نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِي بُطُونِهِ مِن بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَّبَنًا خَالِصًا سَائِغًا لِّلشَّارِبِينَ
And lo! in the cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, from betwixt the refuse and the blood, pure milk palatable to the drinkers.
[Al-Quran, Surah an-Nahl 66, Translation: Pickthall]
The very next few ayaat mention how your Lord has inspired the honey bee, and that the honey produced by her contains cure for humans.
Surah al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage) begins with the warning to have taqwa (fear) of our Lord, indeed the earthquake when The Hour will be established is a terrible thing. ... It relates that Abraham was shown the place, commanded not to worship anyone except Allah ﷻ, and to purify Allah ﷻ 's house ... , and to proclaim al-Hajj (the pilgrimage) to all humans:
لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ ۖ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَائِسَ الْفَقِيرَ
That they may witness things that are of benefit to them, and mention the name of Allah on appointed days over the beast of cattle that He hath bestowed upon them. Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor unfortunate.
ثُمَّ لْيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ وَلْيُوفُوا نُذُورَهُمْ وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ
Then let them make an end of their unkemptness and pay their vows and go around the ancient House.
ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ حُرُمَاتِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ ۗ وَأُحِلَّتْ لَكُمُ الْأَنْعَامُ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَاجْتَنِبُوا الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الْأَوْثَانِ وَاجْتَنِبُوا قَوْلَ الزُّورِ
That (is the command). And whoso magnifieth the sacred things of Allah, it will be well for him in the sight of his Lord. The cattle are lawful unto you save that which hath been told you. So shun the filth of idols, and shun lying speech,
حُنَفَاءَ لِلَّهِ غَيْرَ مُشْرِكِينَ بِهِ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتَخْطَفُهُ الطَّيْرُ أَوْ تَهْوِي بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي مَكَانٍ سَحِيقٍ
Turning unto Allah (only), not ascribing partners unto Him; for whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky and the birds had snatched him or the wind had blown him to a far-off place.
ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ
That (is the command). And whoso magnifieth the offerings consecrated to Allah, it surely is from devotion of the hearts,
لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ثُمَّ مَحِلُّهَا إِلَى الْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ
Therein are benefits for you for an appointed term; and afterward they are brought for sacrifice unto the ancient House.
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِّيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ ۗ فَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَلَهُ أَسْلِمُوا ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُخْبِتِينَ
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,
الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَهُمْ وَالْمُقِيمِي الصَّلَاةِ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
Whose hearts fear when Allah is mentioned, and the patient of whatever may befall them, and those who establish worship and who spend of that We have bestowed on them.
وَالْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَاهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ ۖ فَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَافَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْقَانِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَاهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And the camels! We have appointed them among the ceremonies of Allah. Therein ye have much good. So mention the name of Allah over them when they are drawn up in lines. Then when their flanks fall (dead), eat thereof and feed the beggar and the suppliant. Thus have We made them subject unto you, that haply ye may give thanks.
لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَاؤُهَا وَلَـٰكِن يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Their flesh and their food reach not Allah, but the devotion from you reacheth Him. Thus have We made them subject unto you that ye may magnify Allah that He hath guided you. And give good tidings (O Muhammad) to the good.
۞ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدَافِعُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ خَوَّانٍ كَفُورٍ
Lo! Allah defendeth those who are true. Lo! Allah loveth not each treacherous ingrate.
[Al-Quran, Surah al-Hajj 28-38, Translation: Pickthall]
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References & Links
Transhumanism - III: bypassing the womb?
Feminism
No Duality, No Trinity, No Divine Family
No ilah but Allah لا إله إلا الله
Empowered with Faith, Prayer and Gratitude!
Natural Clothing
Birthday Celebrations
Jinn-Human Hybrids
Guarding the Womb
Satan's Enmity: Origin & Objective
World History & Future Implications
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Wikipedia links
Goddess
Bat
Hathor
Hathor face mirror Attribution: This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See the Image and Data Resources Open Access Policy, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64118803
Cattle in religion and mythology
Hybrid beasts in folklore
List of Egyptian deities
Cow protection movement
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Ear tag
Earmark (agriculture)
Last updated on: November 17, 2022
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