Surah An-Nahl 16:6
ﲲ ﲳ ﲴ ﲵ ﲶ ﲷ ﲸ
And for you in them is [the enjoyment of] beauty when you bring them in [for the evening] and when you send them out [to pasture].
Tafsir of An-Nahl 16:6
Tafsir
Al-Kashshaf
Verse range: 16:6
An-Naḥl: 6 **"And in them there is beauty for you..."**
God has bestowed favor by [mentioning] the beauty of these animals, just as He bestowed favor by [mentioning] their utility. This is because beauty is among the primary objectives of livestock owners—indeed, it is one of their greatest concerns.
When the shepherds bring them home in the evening and send them out in the morning, they adorn the courtyards with their return and departure. The echoing of their bleating and lowing brings comfort to their owners, gladdens their hearts, elevates their status in the eyes of onlookers, and earns them prestige and respect among the people.
This is similar to His saying: "For you to ride, and as an adornment" (16:8), and "To conceal your shame and as raiment" (7:26).
If you ask: Why was "bringing them home" (irāḥah) mentioned before "sending them out" (tasrīḥ)?
I say: Because the beauty in bringing them home is more apparent; they arrive with full bellies and overflowing udders, then settle into the enclosures, present and available to their owners.
'Ikrimah recited: "A time when you bring them home and a time when you send them out," treating "when" (ḥīnan) as a description of the time. The meaning is: "a time in which you bring them home and send them out," similar to His saying: "And fear a day when no father shall avail..." (31:33).