Allah has favored [the people] with the beauty of it, just as He has favored them with benefiting from it. This is because it is one of the purposes of the owners of livestock, and indeed it is one of their great matters. When the shepherds bring them back in the evening and let them out in the morning, it beautifies the courtyards with their resting and herding. The bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the cattle respond in it. [The saying 'the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the cattle respond in it' means that the bleating is the sound of sheep and goats and similar animals. The lowing is the sound of animals with hooves, as stated in the dictionaries.] It comforts their people and brings joy to their owners. It elevates them in the eyes of those who look at them and earns them status and respect among the people. Similarly, 'to ride them and adorn them, which cover your private parts and provide feathers.' If you say: Why is resting mentioned before herding? I say: Because the beauty is more apparent in resting when they come full-bellied and with full udders, then they return to the pens ready for their owners. And 'Ikrimah read: 'At times you rest them and at times you herd them,' as if to say: 'You rest them at times and herd them at times,' similar to the saying of Allah: 'On a day when no parent will avail [anything] for their child.'