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Tafsir of Surah An-Nahl - Verse 76

Surah 16
Verse 76
128 verses
76

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلࣰا رَّجُلَیۡنِ أَحَدُهُمَاۤ أَبۡكَمُ لَا یَقۡدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَیۡءࣲ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوۡلَىٰهُ أَیۡنَمَا یُوَجِّههُّ لَا یَأۡتِ بِخَیۡرٍ هَلۡ یَسۡتَوِی هُوَ وَمَن یَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَ ٰ⁠طࣲ مُّسۡتَقِیمࣲ

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?

Scholarly Interpretations(1)

Another Example

Mujahid 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.

هَلْ يَسْتَوِى

(Is such a man equal) meaning, a man who has these attributes

وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ

(to one who commands justice) meaning fairness, one whose words are true and whose deeds are righteous.

وَهُوَ عَلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

(and is himself on the straight path) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "This is also an example of the disbeliever and the believer", as in the previous Ayah.