280 Page Notes

16 Surah An-Nahl (continued)

Page 280 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 280 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 280 of the Qur'an covers Surah An-Nahl (The Bees), verses 111 through 118. This closing section of the Surah deals with the absolute accountability of the soul, the historical context of the famine that struck Makkah, guidelines for lawful food, and a direct defense of Islamic dietary restrictions against the innovations of the pagan Arabs and the previous laws given to the Jews.

The Hadith literature and the Sunnah provide deep insights, contextual clarity, and legal frameworks for these specific passages.

1. The Famine and Siege of Makkah (Verses 112–113)

"And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear..." (Qur'an 16:112)

While structured as a general parable, classical Qur'anic commentators and Hadith authorities confirm that this verse directly targets the pagan elite of Makkah who rejected the Prophet ﷺ.

• The Prophet’s Invocation Against Makkah:
  When the Quraysh intensified their hostility and refused to listen to the divine message, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ supplicated against them, asking Allah to strip them of their agricultural abundance. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud narrated:
  "When the Quraysh resisted the Prophet ﷺ, he said, 'O Allah! Help me against them by inflicting them with seven years of famine like the seven years of Joseph.' So a famine overtook them that destroyed everything, to the extent that they ate hides, carcasses, and dead animals..." (Sahih al-Bukhari 1007, 4821)

• The "Garment" of Hunger:
  The verse uses the vivid phrasing "tasted the garment (envelopment) of hunger". The Hadith literature explains that the famine was so devastating that when a person looked up at the sky, they could see nothing but smoke due to extreme physical exhaustion and hunger.

2. General Commands for Halal and Gratitude (Verse 114)

"Then eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And be grateful for the favor of Allah..." (Qur'an 16:114)

In contrast to the restricted and severe diet the pagans were forced to endure during the famine, Allah commands the believers to enjoy the clean, wholesome foods (Tayyib) provided to them, while actively practicing gratitude.

• Gratitude Over Abundance:
  The Sunnah emphasizes that the essence of fulfilling this verse is thanking Allah after meals, which secures His pleasure. The Prophet ﷺ said:
  "Indeed, Allah is pleased with the servant who eats a meal and praises Him for it, or takes a drink and praises Him for it." (Sahih Muslim 2734)

3. The Four Absolute Dietary Prohibitions (Verse 115)

"He has only forbidden to you dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked..." (Qur'an 16:115)

This foundational verse establishes core Islamic dietary laws. The Sunnah acts as a legislative explainer, defining exceptions and clarifying the boundaries of what constitutes "dead meat" or "blood."

• Exceptions to "Dead Meat" and "Blood":
  A literal reading of verse 115 would forbid all dead organisms and all forms of blood. However, the Sunnah provides a crucial legal qualification that permits specific exceptions. The Prophet ﷺ stated:
  "Two types of dead meat and two types of blood have been made lawful for us. The two dead meats are fish (or seafood) and locusts, and the two types of blood are the liver and the spleen." (Sunan Ibn Majah 3314, Musnad Ahmad)

• Satanic Food Inventions:
  The pagan Arabs used to arbitrarily declare certain healthy animals forbidden (Bahirah, Sa'ibah) based on superstitious traditions. This verse strips away their false laws. The Prophet ﷺ noted in a famous Hadith Qudsi that Allah said:
  "...I created all My servants upon the natural true faith, but the devils came to them, turned them away from their religion, and made unlawful for them what I had made lawful for them." (Sahih Muslim 2865)

4. The Law of Necessity / Duress (Verse 115)

"...But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit]—then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (Qur'an 16:115)

• Defining the Limit of the Exception:
  The Sunnah strictly defines "necessity" to prevent people from misusing this concession. A person may only consume forbidden food (like pork or unslaughtered meat) if they face starvation and have no alternative. Companion Abu Waqid al-Laythi asked the Prophet ﷺ: "O Messenger of Allah, we live in a land prone to severe famines. When is it permissible for us to eat dead meat?" The Prophet ﷺ replied:
  "When you cannot find a morning meal, nor an evening meal, and you cannot find any crops to harvest, then you may eat it." (Sunan ad-Darimi 1982, Musnad Ahmad)

5. Dietary Laws of the Jews as Punishment (Verse 118)

"And to those who are Jews We have prohibited what We relate to you before. And We did not wrong them, but they were wronging themselves." (Qur'an 16:118)

This verse clarifies that the extra dietary restrictions placed upon the Jewish community (such as certain animal fats and specific types of hoofed animals, as mentioned in Surah Al-An'am) were not because those foods were inherently bad, but as a divine disciplinary measure for their transgressions.

• Lifting the Heavy Burdens:
  The Sunnah frequently highlights how the law brought by Muhammad ﷺ was designed to ease the extreme legal burdens (Isr) placed on prior nations. The Prophet ﷺ said:
  "I have been sent with the easy, natural monotheistic religion." (Musnad Ahmad 22291)