فَكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا ذُكِرَ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كُنتُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِهِۦ مُؤْمِنِينَ 118
Translations
So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allāh has been mentioned, if you are believers in His verses [i.e., revealed law].
Transliteration
Fakulu mimma dhukira ismu Allahi alayhi in kuntum bi-ayatihi mu'mineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah permits the consumption of slaughtered animals over which Allah's name has been invoked, provided one believes in Allah's signs. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this verse establishes the permissibility of eating meat from lawfully slaughtered animals, emphasizing that the pronouncement of Allah's name (Bismillah) during slaughter is a condition for halal meat. The phrase 'if you believe in His signs' (in kuntum bi-ayatihi mu'mineen) connects faith in Allah's oneness and guidance to obedience in following His prescribed dietary laws.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-An'am, which discusses halal and haram foods and establishes Islamic dietary laws. It follows verses discussing the prohibition of carrion, blood, and swine, and serves to clarify what animals are permissible to eat when properly slaughtered according to Islamic ritual, addressing pre-Islamic practices and pagan customs of the Meccan period.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'There is no animal among the animals that has more souls than the locust; so when you slaughter, do so in a good manner. Let each of you sharpen his blade and spare the animal suffering' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Also relevant: The Prophet emphasized the importance of saying 'Bismillah' before slaughter in various hadith collections including Sahih Muslim.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that following Islamic dietary laws is an expression of faith in Allah and His wisdom; believers should ensure that their food is obtained lawfully and through proper Islamic methods, recognizing that how we obtain and consume sustenance reflects our submission to divine guidance.
Related Ayahs
فَقُطِعَ دَابِرُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ۚ وَٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
So the people that committed wrong were eliminated. And praise to Allāh, Lord of the worlds.
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُم بِٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ
And We have already sent [messengers] to nations before you, [O Muḥammad]; then We seized them with poverty and hardship that perhaps they might humble themselves [to Us].
قُلْ هُوَ ٱلْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ
Say, "He is the [one] Able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet or to confuse you [so you become] sects and make you taste the violence of one another." Look how We diversify the signs that they might understand.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُوَلِّى بَعْضَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بَعْضًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
And thus will We make some of the wrongdoers allies of others for what they used to earn.