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An-Nahl (The Bee)

Verse 76of 128

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَىٰهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ﴿٧٦

Translation (Sahih International)

And Allah presents an example of two men, one of them dumb and unable to do a thing, while he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal to one who commands justice, while he is on a straight path?

Word-by-word meaning

وَضَرَبَwaḍarabaAnd Allah sets forth
ٱللَّهُl-lahuAnd Allah sets forth
مَثَلًۭاmathalanan example
رَّجُلَيْنِrajulayni(of) two men
أَحَدُهُمَآaḥaduhumāone of them
أَبْكَمُabkamu(is) dumb
لَاnot
يَقْدِرُyaqdiruhe has power
عَلَىٰʿalāon
شَىْءٍۢshayinanything
وَهُوَwahuwawhile he
كَلٌّkallun(is) a burden
عَلَىٰʿalāon
مَوْلَىٰهُmawlāhuhis master
أَيْنَمَاaynamāWherever
يُوَجِّههُّyuwajjihhuhe directs him
لَاnot
يَأْتِyatihe comes
بِخَيْرٍ ۖbikhayrinwith any good
هَلْhalIs
يَسْتَوِىyastawīequal
هُوَhuwahe
وَمَنwamanand (the one) who
يَأْمُرُyamurucommands
بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۙbil-ʿadli[of] justice
وَهُوَwahuwaand he
عَلَىٰʿalā(is) on
صِرَٰطٍۢṣirāṭina path
مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢmus'taqīminstraight

Commentary (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Another ExampleMujahid said, "This also refers to idols and the True God, may He be exalted." Meaning that the idol is dumb and cannot speak or say anything, good or otherwise. It cannot do anything at all, no words, no action, it is dependent and is a burden on its master. أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ(whichever way he directs him,) meaning, wherever he sends him لاَ يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ(he brings no good.) meaning, he does not succeed in what he wants.

Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir — abridged excerpt

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