ٱلْأَنْعَام : ١٤٣

  • ثَمَٰنِيَةَ Eight
  • أَزۡوَٰجٖۖ pairs
  • مِّنَ of
  • ٱلضَّأۡنِ the sheep
  • ٱثۡنَيۡنِ two
  • وَمِنَ and of
  • ٱلۡمَعۡزِ the goats
  • ٱثۡنَيۡنِۗ two
  • قُلۡ Say
  • ءَآلذَّكَرَيۡنِ (Are) the two males
  • حَرَّمَ He has forbidden
  • أَمِ or
  • ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِ the two females
  • أَمَّا or what
  • ٱشۡتَمَلَتۡ contains
  • عَلَيۡهِ [in it]
  • أَرۡحَامُ (the) wombs
  • ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِۖ (of) the two females
  • نَبِّـُٔونِي Inform me
  • بِعِلۡمٍ with knowledge
  • إِن if
  • كُنتُمۡ you are
  • صَٰدِقِينَ truthful
[They are] eight mates - of the sheep, two and of the goats, two. Say, "Is it the two males He has forbidden or the two females or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Inform me with knowledge, if you should be truthful."
Eight pairs, types (thamaaniyata azwaajin substitutes for hamoolatan wa-farshan, 'some for burdens and some for light support'): two of sheep, a male and a female; and of goats (read ma'az or ma'z) two. Say, O Muhammad may peace and salutation be upon him to those who on one occasion deem male cattle forbidden, and on another, the females thereof, and then ascribe such [rules] to God: 'Is it the two males, of the sheep and goats, He has forbidden, you, or the two females, of these two [types], or that which the wombs of the two females contain, be they male or female? Inform Me with knowledge, of the details of such prohibitions, if you speak truly', in this [matter], meaning: on what basis has the prohibition been made? If it is on the basis of maleness, then all males are forbidden; if on the basis of femaleness, then all females are so [forbidden]; if on what the womb may contain, then both genders are prohibited. So, on what basis are such specifications made? (the interrogative is meant as a repudiation).