Surah Al Anaam

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
 I seek Allah’s protection/refuge/shelter from Shaitaan, the Accursed one.

 بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Meaning: 

• Al Anaam means" The Cattle".
• Other meaning is " Livestock".

Background:

• Name taken from verse 136, 138 and 139.
• "They assign to Allah a portion out of the produce and cattle that He has created, saying out of their fancy: 'This is for Allah' - so they deem -'and this is for the associates (of Allah) whom we have contrived.' Then, the portion assigned to the beings whom they have set up as associates (of Allah) does not reach Allah, but the portion assigned to Allah reaches the beings they set up as associates (of Allah)! Indeed evil is what they decide!" (6:136)
• "They say: 'These animals and these crops are sacrosanct: none may eat of them save those whom we will' - imposing interdictions of their own contriving. And they declare that it is forbidden to burden the backs of certain cattle, and these are the cattle over which they do not pronounce the name of Allah. All these are false fabrications against Allah, and He will soon requite them for all that they fabricate."( 6:138)
• "And they say: 'What is within the bellies of such-and-such cattle is exclusively for our males and is forbidden to our females; but if it be born dead, they all may share in it.' He will soon requite them for all that they (falsely) attribute to Allah. He is All-Wise, All-Knowing."(6:139)

Introduction:

• This is the sixth surah of Quran.
• This surah has 165 verses.
• This surah has 3,056 words.
• This surah has 20 ruku.
• Surah Anaam is "Makki" surah, revealed in Makkah.

Significance: 

• As narrated, Ma'az bin jabl says: "At the time of revelation of this surah, the Holy prophet was mounting on a she-camel and I was holding her nose string. The she camel started to feel the wight as if her bones would break under it. As per traditions, the whole surah was revealed at one sitting at Makkah.
• Ibn-Abbas said: "Surrah Al Anaam was revealed in Makkah, at night accompanied by seventy thousand angels, raising their voices in glorification of Allah". 

Topics:

• Message of "Tawheed" is highly emphasized.
• Bssic principles of Tawheed.
• Beautiful description of Allah's creative power.
• Criticise 'shirk'.
• Unity of Allah in the universe.
• Baseless polytheism.
• Prophet Ibrahim and other prophets preached "Tawheed".
• Allah's judgement will surely come
• Truth will prevail.
• Allah gives right guidance about food and other matters of life.