What is the secret behind the masculine form of the word "butun" (بطون) in verse 66 of Surat An-Nahl and its feminine form in verse 69, and what is the source that clarifies these subtleties?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The pronoun for An'am (livestock) in His Almighty's saying: (مِمَّا فِي بُطُونِهِ) "from that which is within its bellies" is masculine, observing the singular form of the word, as An'am is a collective noun singular in its wording. Whereas the pronoun in the verse from Surat Al-Mu'minun: (نُسْقِيكُمْ مِمَّا فِي بُطُونِها) "We give you to drink from that which is in their bellies" is feminine, observing the collective meaning of An'am. As for An-Nahl (bees), it is a generic noun that can be masculine or feminine. The feminine usage is the language of the people of Hijaz, and the masculine usage is the language of others.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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