DAY 302: Anam 136-140

•  The pagans set aside for Allah a share of the crops and cattle He created, saying, “This ˹portion˺ is for Allah,” so they claim, “and this ˹one˺ for our associate-gods.” Yet the portion of their associate-gods is not shared with Allah while Allah’s portion is shared with their associate-gods. What unfair judgment! Likewise, the pagans’ evil associates have made it appealing to them to kill their own children—only leading to their destruction as well as confusion in their faith. Had it been Allah’s Will, they would not have done such a thing. So leave them and their falsehood. They say, “These cattle and crops are reserved—none may eat them except those we permit,” so they claim. Some other cattle are exempted from labour and others are not slaughtered in Allah’s Name—falsely attributing lies to Him. He will soon punish them for what they have been fabricating. They ˹also˺ say, “The offspring of this cattle is reserved for our males and forbidden to our females; but if it is stillborn, they may all share it.” Soon, He will punish them for what they attribute. Surely, He is All-Wise, All-Knowing. Lost indeed are those who have murdered their own children foolishly out of ignorance and have forbidden what Allah has provided for them—falsely attributing lies to Allah. They have certainly strayed and are not ˹rightly˺ guided.
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      Shirk Corrupts Morality and Logic: It leads to irrational, self-serving, and hypocritical religious practices.
      Shirk Leads to Atrocities: The same mindset that creates arbitrary food laws can lead to the ultimate crime of killing one's own children, showing a complete perversion of natural instinct and morality.
      Divine Law vs. Man-Made Law: The passage starkly contrasts the forthcoming Islamic laws (which are just, merciful, and logical) with the pagan customs, which are based on ignorance, desire, and cruelty. It establishes that only God has the authority to declare something lawful or forbidden.
      
      This passage condemns the pagan Arabs for inventing a self-serving religious system that arbitrarily forbade God's provisions and even led to the killing of their own children, exposing such practices as a destructive and foolish lie against God born solely from their own desires and ignorance.
     
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