وَمَثَلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي يَنْعِقُ بِمَا لَا يَسْمَعُ إِلَّا دُعَاءً وَنِدَاءً صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿۱۷۱﴾ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ ﴿۱۷۲﴾ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ ﴿۱۷۳﴾
﴾171﴿ Wa masalul lazeena kafaroo kamasalil lazee yan'iqu bimaa laa yasma'u illaa du'aaa'anw wa nidaaa'aa; summum bukmun 'umyun fahum laa ya'qiloon
﴾172﴿ Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo kuloo min taiyibaati maa razaqnaakum washkuroo lillaahi in kuntum iyyaahu ta'budoon
﴾173﴿ Innamaa harrama 'alaikumul maitata waddama wa lahmal khinzeeri wa maaa uhilla bihee lighairil laahi famanid turra ghaira baaghinw wa laa 'aadin falaaa isma 'alaih; innal laaha Ghafoorur Raheem
﴾171﴿ And the condition of the disbelievers is like the one who calls out to animals that hear nothing except a call and a cry.
They are deaf, dumb, and blind—so they do not understand anything.
﴾172﴿ O believers, eat from the pure and lawful things which We have provided for you, and give thanks to Allah if you worship Him alone.
﴾173﴿ It is only that Allah has forbidden you carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and that over which a name is invoked other than Allah’s.
But whoever is compelled to eat—without intending harm to others and without exceeding the limit—then there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
[171] This is a parable, and its purpose is to show that just as animals hear only sounds but do not comprehend speech, similarly these idolaters who imitate others do not truly understand whether their elders possess any valid religious evidence or not—they are merely deceived by outward appearances.
Or, the example refers to the caller of these disbelieving imitators: the one calling is like a shepherd, and these disbelievers are like animals.
[172] This is a specific address following a general one, concerning actual shirk (in matters of lawful and unlawful).
And in the verse is an indication that using the blessings of Allah in a proper manner is itself a form of worship.
[173] In this verse, four forbidden things related to food are mentioned, which are prohibited in all religions.
It is a refutation of those who declare such forbidden things as lawful.
This verse also refutes making vows to anyone other than Allah, indicating that just as carrion, blood, and swine are prohibited, making vows to others besides Allah is even more strictly forbidden.
(And that over which a name is invoked other than Allah): This refers to anything about which it is said, “This is a vow for such-and-such saint or master,” and it also includes slaughtering in the name of anyone other than Allah.
If a vow is made in the name of other than Allah, then even if it is slaughtered with the name of Allah, it is not lawful—just as saying “Bismillah” over carrion does not make it lawful to eat.
The word “ma” (what) is general and includes both animals and non-animals.
“Uhill” means to raise one’s voice, not specifically to slaughter.
“Bihi” means “over it,” and “lighayrillah” (to other than Allah) — the lam here is for seeking nearness, which refers to worship through making vows.
(Whoever is compelled): This compulsion may be due to extreme hunger or coercion by disbelievers or oppressors.
(Not seeking it nor transgressing): Bāghī is one who eats excessively, and ʿĀdī is one who consumes another’s share.
Or Bāghī is one who desires this forbidden food, and ʿĀdī is one who exceeds the limit and takes some for his companion.