The Quran

103

Preface

ما جَعَلَ اللَّهُ مِن بَحيرَةٍ وَلا سائِبَةٍ وَلا وَصيلَةٍ وَلا حامٍ ۙ وَلٰكِنَّ الَّذينَ كَفَروا يَفتَرونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الكَذِبَ ۖ وَأَكثَرُهُم لا يَعقِلونَ

Yusuf Ali

It was not God who instituted (superstitions¹ like those of) a slit-ear she- camel, or a she-camel let loose for free pasture, or idol sacrifices for twin-births in animals, or stallion-camels freed from work: It is blasphemers who invent a lie against God. but most of them lack wisdom.

A number of Arab Pagan superstitions are referred to. The Pagan mind, not understanding the hidden secrets of nature, attributed certain phenomena to divine anger and were assailed by superstitious fears which haunted their lives. If a she-camel or other female domestic animal had a large number of young, she (or one of her offspring) had her ear slit and she was dedicated to a god; such an animal was a bahirah. On return in safety from a journey, or on recovery from an illness a she-camel was similarly dedicated and let loose for free pasture; she was called a saibah. Where an animal bore twins, certain sacrifices or dedications were made to idols; an animal so dedicated was a wasilah. A stallion-camel dedicated to the gods by certain rites was a ham. The particular examples lead to the general truth; that superstition is due to ignorance, and is degrading to men and dishonouring to God, (Cf. 6:139).