Al-An'am (The Cattle): (119) And what is [the matter] with you that you should not eat...

There are several issues in this verse:

Issue 1: Recitations of the Verbs

There are different recitations for the words {وقد فصل لكم ما حرم عليكم} (And He has detailed for you what He has forbidden to you):

1. Nafi' and Hafs (from 'Asim) recited both verbs with the Fath (vowel 'a'): {فَصَّلَ} and {حَرَّمَ}.
   • Justification (First Way): They base the Fath of {فَصَّلَ} on the verse {قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الْآيَاتِ} (We have detailed the verses), and the Fath of {حَرَّمَ} on {أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ} (Recite what your Lord has forbidden).
   • Justification (Second Way): They cite the verse {قَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ} (He has detailed for you what He has forbidden you) where the mention of God's name precedes, implying the verb should be attributed to an active subject (hence Fath).

2. Ibn Kathir, Ibn 'Amir, and Abu 'Amr recited both verbs with the Damm (vowel 'u'): {فُصِّلَ} and {حُرِّمَ} (passive voice).
   • Justification: They cite verses where the forbidden things are mentioned in the passive voice, such as {حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ} (Forbidden to you is the dead carcass). Since the detailed explanation requires the passive voice (as seen in {حُرِّمَتْ}), the summary/general statement {حُرِّمَ} must also be passive. By extension, {فُصِّلَ} must also be passive, as the detailed explanation is precisely this forbidden matter. They also cite {وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا} (And He is the One Who sent down to you the Book, detailed).

3. Hamzah, Al-Kisai, and Abu Bakr (from 'Asim) recited {فَصَّلَ} with Fath and {حَرَّمَ} with Damm: {فَصَّلَ} and {حُرِّمَ}.
   • Justification: Their justification for {فَصَّلَ} (Fath) is {قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الْآيَاتِ}, and for {حُرِّمَ} (Damm) is {حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ}.

Issue 2: Interpretation of "What He Has Forbidden"

Most commentators state that what is meant by {وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ} (And He has detailed for you what He has forbidden you) is the content of Surah Al-Ma'idah: {حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنْزِيرِ} (Forbidden to you are the dead carcass, blood, and the flesh of swine...).

The Problem (Incongruity of Chronology): Surah Al-An'am is Meccan, while Surah Al-Ma'idah is Medinan and was revealed later. The phrase {وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ} (And He has detailed) implies that the detailed explanation preceded this general statement. A later revelation (Medinan) cannot precede an earlier one (Meccan).

The Preferred Interpretation: It is better to say that the intended meaning refers to the verse immediately following this one in Surah Al-An'am: {قُل لَّا أَجِدُ فِيمَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَىٰ طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ...} (Say, "I do not find within what was revealed to me forbidden to one who would eat it..."). Although this verse appears shortly after, this slight delay does not prevent it from being the intended reference.

The phrase {إِلَّا مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ} (except what you are forced by necessity to consume) means that necessity (extreme hunger) compels you to eat it.

Then He said: {وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا لَّيُضِلُّونَ بِأَهْوَائِهِمْ} (And indeed, many lead astray by their desires).

Issue 1: Recitation of {لَّيُضِلُّونَ}

There are different recitations for the verb {لَّيُضِلُّونَ} (they lead astray):

1. Ibn Kathir and Abu 'Amr recite it with Fath on the Ya' (i.e., لَيُضِلُّونَ - active voice, meaning "they cause others to err"). This is consistent with their recitation in other verses (Yunus, Ibrahim, Al-Hajj, Luqman, Az-Zumar).
2. 'Asim, Hamzah, and Al-Kisai recite it with Damm on the Ya' (i.e., لَيُضِلُّونَ - passive voice, meaning "they are led astray/they err").
3. Nafi' and Ibn 'Amir recite it with Fath here and in Yunus, but with Damm in other places.

Analysis:

• The one who recites with Fath (active voice) indicates that they themselves are misguided (errant).
• The one who recites with Damm (passive voice) indicates that they cause others to err (misleaders).

The latter (the misleader, Muḍill) is considered more severely blameworthy, because every misleader must necessarily be misguided themselves, but one who is merely misguided (Ḍāll) is not necessarily a misleader of others. Thus, the misleader deserves stronger condemnation.

Issue 2: Identity of Those Who Lead Astray

1. It is said that {وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا} refers to 'Amr ibn Luhayy and those polytheists who followed him. He was the first to alter the religion of Ishmael, introducing the practice of Baḥā'ir (sacred animals) and Sā'ibah (votive animals), and permitting the eating of carrion.
   • The phrase {بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ} (without knowledge) means that 'Amr ibn Luhayy proceeded with these doctrines out of pure ignorance and utter misguidance.

2. Al-Zajjaj stated that it refers to those who permit the dead carcass and argue with the Muslims about its permissibility, using the logic: "If what you slaughter is permissible for you, then what God creates as carrion is more deserving of permissibility." Similarly, in all matters where they lead astray—such as idol worship or impugning the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH)—they follow mere desire and whim, having no insight or knowledge.

Issue 3: Prohibition of Following Tradition (Taqlid)

This verse indicates that speaking about religious matters based purely on Taqlid (unquestioning imitation/following tradition) is forbidden (ḥarām). This is because following tradition based on mere whim and desire is precisely what the verse condemns as forbidden.

Then the Almighty said: {إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُعْتَدِينَ} (Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of the transgressors).

This means that He is the Knower of what is in their hearts and intentions—their transgression, their seeking support for falsehood, and their striving to conceal the truth. Since He knows their states and has the power to punish them, He will certainly recompense them. The purpose of this statement is threat and warning.

And God knows best.

7 < {And leave the apparent sin and its hidden aspect. Indeed, those who earn sin will be recompensed for what they used to commit.} > 7 ! <