Tafsir of Al-An'am 6:38

{Communities like you} Their provisions, lifespans, and deeds are written, just as your provisions, lifespans, and deeds are written.

{We have not neglected} We have not omitted, nor have We overlooked.

{In the Book} In the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ).

{Anything} Of those things, without writing it down or establishing what must be established regarding them.

{Then unto their Lord they will be gathered} Meaning all the communities of beasts and birds. He will compensate them and grant justice to some from others, as it is narrated: "He will take retribution for the hornless sheep from the horned one."

If you ask: How is it said {except communities} while using the singular for "beast" (dābbah) and "bird" (ṭā’ir)? I say: Since His saying, "And there is no beast on the earth nor bird," indicates the meaning of totality—making it unnecessary to say "no beasts nor birds"—the phrase "except communities" is applied to the meaning.

If you ask: Why was it not said, "And there is no beast nor bird but they are communities like you"? And what is the meaning of the addition of {on the earth} and {flying with its two wings}? I say: The meaning is to increase the generalization and comprehensiveness. It is as if it were said: There is no beast at all in all the seven earths, and no bird at all in the atmosphere of the sky among all that fly with their wings, except that they are communities like you, their conditions preserved, their affairs not neglected.

If you ask: What is the purpose of mentioning this? I say: To indicate the greatness of His power, the subtlety of His knowledge, and the vastness of His authority and management over those diverse species and numerous kinds of creatures. He is the Guardian of what is for them and what is against them, watching over their conditions; one affair does not distract Him from another. It also shows that those who are morally responsible (the mukallafūn) are not the only ones singled out for this, to the exclusion of other animals.

• Ibn Abi ‘Ablah read: wa-lā ṭā’irun (in the nominative case), based on the position of the noun, as if it were said: "There is no beast and no bird."
• ‘Alqamah read: mā faraṭnā (with a light ra), meaning "We have not neglected."

{But those who deny Our verses are deaf and dumb within darknesses. Whomever Allah wills - He misguides him; and whomever He wills - He puts him on a straight path.}