Tafsir of Al-Mu'minoon 23:21-22

Al-Mu'minun (The Believers): (21 - 22)

And indeed, for you there is in them...

Know that He, the Glorified and Exalted, mentioned that in them (the cattle) there is a lesson in a summarized manner, and then followed it up with a detailed explanation in four aspects:

First: His saying: {We give you to drink of what is in their bellies}. What is meant by this is all ways of benefiting from their milk. The point of contemplation here is that it gathers in the udders and is purified from between the dung and the blood by the permission of Allah, the Exalted. Thus, it transforms into purity, a color and taste agreeable to desire, and becomes nourishment. Whoever deduces from this the power and wisdom of Allah, that is counted among the religious blessings. And whoever benefits from it is in the blessing of this world. Furthermore, this milk that comes out from their bellies into their udders, you find it a pleasant drink, and if you slaughter them, you find no trace of it (the milk). This indicates the great power of Allah, the Exalted. The author of Al-Kashshaf said that it was also read with an open tā’ (تُسقِيكُم), meaning the cattle give you to drink.

Second: His saying: {And for you in them are many benefits}. This refers to selling them and benefiting from their prices and what is similar to that.

Third: His saying: {And of them you eat}. Meaning, just as you benefit from them while they are alive, you also benefit from them after slaughtering by eating.

Fourth: His saying: {And upon them and upon the ships you are carried}. Because the benefit derived from camels in carrying loads on land is analogous to the benefit derived from ships at sea. Therefore, He combined both aspects in enumerating His favors so that one may be grateful for that and use it as proof.

Know that when He, the Glorified and Exalted, clarified the proofs of Tawhid (Oneness of God), He followed them up with stories, as is the custom in all Surahs. Here, the story is:

{And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Will you not then fear Him?" * But the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people said, "This is not but a man like you who wishes to assert superiority over you, and if Allah had willed, He could have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our forefathers. * He is not but a man afflicted with madness, so wait for him for a time."}