[ et-Tayyibāt is interpreted in eight senses:
It alludes to the verse: "For those who strive to challenge Our signs, there will be a painful punishment." (Sabaʾ/5)
1. et-Tayyibāt has been used in the sense of those animals from the anʿām [camel, cattle, sheep, and goat] that the people of jāhiliyya (pre-Islamic ignorance) declared forbidden (but are in fact lawful); as in the following verses:
O you who believe! Eat of the tayyibāt (i.e., those crops and animals from the ḥarth (cultivated land) and anʿām that the people of jāhiliyya declared forbidden for themselves, but are in fact lawful) with which We have provided you as sustenance! (al-Baqara/172)
The Exalted Allah has informed that these are lawful and that He did not declare them forbidden.
Eat of what is on the earth (i.e., the ḥarth and anʿām) as lawful and tayyib! (al-Baqara/168)
Say: "Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah and the tayyibāt of provision (i.e., the ḥarth and anʿām that they declared forbidden for themselves), which He has produced for His servants?" (al-Aʿrāf/32)
2. et-Tayyibāt means lawful—and by this, manna and quails are intended—as in the following verse:
We drew the cloud over you for shade and sent down to you manna and quails so that you might eat of the tayyibāt (i.e., the lawful manna and quails) We provided for you. (al-Baqara/57)
Similar statements are also found in al-Aʿrāf and Ṭā-Hā surahs.
The following command in Sūrat Yūnus is also similar:
Indeed, We settled the Children of Israel in a beautiful dwelling place and provided them with tayyibāt (i.e., lawful things, which are also manna and quails) as sustenance. (Yūnus/93)
By My glory, We gave the Children of Israel the Book, judgment, and prophethood, and provided them with tayyibāt (i.e., lawful things, which are also manna and quails) as sustenance. (al-Jāthiya/16)
3. et-Tayyibāt is used in the sense of lawful—that which includes food, fine clothing, and conjugal relations; as in the following verses:
O you who believe! Do not forbid the tayyibāt (i.e., those lawful foods, conjugal relations, and lawful clothing) that Allah has made lawful for you! (al-Māʾida/87)
A group among the believers wished to forbid these things for themselves. ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib—may Allah's blessings be upon him and his family—was among them. The Exalted Allah said:
Eat of what Allah has provided for you as lawful and tayyib! (al-Māʾida/88)
O Messengers! Eat of the tayyibāt (i.e., the lawful provision)! (al-Muʾminūn/51)
4. By et-Tayyibāt, the inner fats and meats of cloven-hoofed animals are meant; as in the following verses:
Because of their wrongdoing, We forbade the tayyibāt (i.e., the inner fats and meats of cloven-hoofed animals) that had previously been lawful to the Jews. (al-Nisāʾ/160)
Indeed, the Noble Qur'an mentions that these were declared forbidden. Yet previously, in the Torah, they had been made lawful for them.
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet (i.e., Muḥammad), whom they find described in the Torah and the Gospel with them... He makes lawful for them the tayyibāt (i.e., the inner fats and meats of every cloven-hoofed animal). (cf. al-Aʿrāf/157)
5. By the term et-Tayyibāt, it is meant that the meats of animals slaughtered and made lawful for consumption are tayyib for them [i.e., for Muslims]; as in the following verses:
They ask you what is lawful for them. Say: "Lawful for you are the tayyibāt (i.e., the meats of animals whose slaughter makes them lawful for consumption). Also, what your trained hunting animals catch for you, teaching them as Allah has taught you..." (al-Māʾida/4)
This day, the tayyibāt (i.e., the meats of animals whose slaughter makes them lawful for consumption) have been made lawful for you. (al-Māʾida/5)
6. By the term et-Tayyibāt, it is meant lawful—specifically, war booty; as in the following verses:
Remember when you (i.e., the Muhājirūn) were a small, oppressed group in the land, fearing that people (i.e., the disbelievers of Mecca) might abduct you, but He sheltered you, supported you with His help, and provided you with tayyibāt as sustenance (i.e., lawful sustenance—by which is meant the booty taken at the Battle of Badr). (al-Anfāl/26)
Eat of the booty you have obtained as tayyib (i.e., lawful), and be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (al-Anfāl/69)
7. By the word et-Tayyibāt, what is meant is inherently tayyib provision; as in the following verses:
Indeed, We have honored the Children of Adam (i.e., all the descendants of Adam)... and provided them with tayyibāt (i.e., grains, honey, oil, and similar tayyib things) as sustenance. (al-Isrāʾ/70)
Their provision has been made more tayyib than that of animals and birds.
He formed you and made your forms beautiful and provided you with tayyibāt (i.e., Allah made your provision more tayyib than that of walking animals and birds). (al-Muʾmin/64)
8. By et-Tayyibāt, good speech is meant; as in the following verse:
Tayyibāt are for the tayyibīn, and the tayyibīn are for the tayyibāt (i.e., good speech is for tayyib men and women). (al-Nūr/26)