الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينة ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين

In a previous talk I discussed “The reason for the Decline of the Muslims” and stated that the reason for the decline of Muslims is that we have failed to properly teach the Quran and thus we have not taken advantage of the outstanding teaching tool that Allah embedded in it to expand the cognitive capacity of the Muslim youth.  Then in my last week talk I proposed a strategy for “Developing Cognitive Capacity” that includes focusing on how the Quran encourages Muslims to study all kinds of natural and social sciences.  In this talk, I plan to, inshallah, discuss a metric that Allah has set in the Quran to assess our level of knowledge and our ability to use our brain.

This metric is based on measuring your level of understanding of the “Amthal” (plural of Mathal) that Allah placed in the Quran, and there is over 40 “Mathals”.  I am using the Arabic word “Mathal” and its plural “Amthal” because there are different kind of ‘Mathal” and each kind has its proper English translation that include:  proverbs, simile, similitude, likeness, parable, example, metaphor, likeness, description, comparison, allegory and analogy. 

The Quran uses all these kinds and thus the word “Mathal” and its plural “Amthal” can be translated in different ways depending on the understanding of the nature of the “Mathal”.  (I’ll leave it up to you and your students to read about the definition of these different terms to know which word is best used for each “Mathal”.

Allah states that only those who comprehend the message of the Amthal in the Quran can be qualified as knowledgeable.  Allah says in Surat Al-Ankabout (29):

وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلُ نَضۡرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ‌ۖ وَمَا يَعۡقِلُهَآ إِلَّا ٱلۡعَـٰلِمُونَ (٤٣(

“And these “Amthal” We put forward for mankind, but none understands them except the scholars (knowledgeable Ones)”. (Al-Ankabut 29:43)

Allah is informing us that understanding the Amthal that Allah set up in the Quran is the criterion for someone to be called scholar, a title given by Allah.    Therefore, early Muslims used to cry when they could not understand a “Mathal” because they consider their lack of understanding as an indication that they are ignorant. 

Studying the “Amthal” in the Quran represents a powerful tool not only to deliver Allah’s message but to also expand the cognitive capacity of Muslims who are serious about studying the Quran.   Allah puts forward these “Amthal for purpose as He says:

وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّـهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

 “Allah sets forth “Amthal” for the people in order that they may remember.” (Ibrahim 14:25)

وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلُ نَضۡرِبُہَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (٢١)

“Such are “Amthal” that We set forth to the people so that they may reflect.” (Al-Hashr 59:21)

Because humans have limitations, Allah presents to them messages that reflect Allah’s complete knowledge of all that exist in forms of metaphors and examples (I.e., Amthal) to help them gain deeper understanding.    

وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلَ لِلنَّاسِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيمٌ۬

“And Allah sets forth to mankind “Amthal”, for Allah is Knower of all things.” (Al-Noor 24:35)

وَلَقَدۡ صَرَّفۡنَا فِى هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن ڪُلِّ مَثَلٍ۬‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَڪۡثَرَ شَىۡءٍ۬ جَدَلاً۬ (٥٤)

“We have displayed in this Quran for the benefit of mankind, every kind of “Mathal”, but man of all things the most disputing” (Al-Kahf 18:54)

Allah also emphasizes the key point that whatever “Mathal” man comes with has no match to Allah’s “Amthal” that are presenting the truth, ultimate knowledge and thus the  best explanation,  Allah says:

وَلَا يَأۡتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلَّا جِئۡنَـٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَحۡسَنَ تَفۡسِيرًا (٣٣)

They will never bring to you a “Mathal”, but that We bring you the truth, and better explanation. (Al-Furqan 25:33)

فَلَا تَضۡرِبُواْ لِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعۡلَمُ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ (٧٤) ۞

“So put not forward “Amthal” for Allah.  Surely, Allah knows, and you do not know. (Al-Nahl 16:74)

So, building on the previous talk of Developing Superior Cognitive Capacity, you can pick a “mathal” and ask your youth to identify the message they learnt from it.  In this talk, I plan to, inshallah, discuss lesson form 8 Amthal and then give you assignment to explain three.

The first Mathal ever presented in the Quran was to illustrate the behavior of the hypocrites:

مَثَلُهُمۡ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسۡتَوۡقَدَ نَارً۬ا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتۡ مَا حَوۡلَهُ ۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمۡ وَتَرَكَهُمۡ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ۬ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ (١٧) صُمُّۢ بُكۡمٌ عُمۡىٌ۬ فَهُمۡ لَا يَرۡجِعُونَ (١٨) أَوۡ كَصَيِّبٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَـٰتٌ۬ وَرَعۡدٌ۬ وَبَرۡقٌ۬ يَجۡعَلُونَ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمۡ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِہِم مِّنَ ٱلصَّوَٲعِقِ حَذَرَ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ مُحِيطُۢ بِٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (١٩) يَكَادُ ٱلۡبَرۡقُ يَخۡطَفُ أَبۡصَـٰرَهُمۡ‌ۖ كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوۡاْ فِيهِ وَإِذَآ أَظۡلَمَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ قَامُواْ‌ۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمۡعِهِمۡ وَأَبۡصَـٰرِهِمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬ (٢٠)

“Their “Mathal” is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it illuminated everything around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness so that they see nothing”. (17) “Deaf, dumb and blind; and they shall not return”.  (18) “Or like a rainstorm from the sky bringing darkness, thunder and lightning. They press their fingers in their ears to keep out the thunder bolt for fear of death.  But Allah encompasses the disbelievers!” (19) “The lightning almost snatches away their eyesight; every time the light flashes they walk therein and when the darkness covers them, they stand still.  And if Allah willed, He would take away their hearing and their sight; for Allah has power over all things.” (Al-Baqara 2:17-20)

This Mathal includes two parables addressing two types of hypocrites.  The first type is of a man who wanted light, so he kindled a fire. But as soon as the fire illuminated around, he turns away from the light and goes back into darkness which is even worse than before.  The reason is that a person will not be able to see anything if he enters a dark room from a place that has light in it.  

While the Mathal speaks about the sight, it infers the inner light of the heart in which the belief and disbelief reside.  What gets blind is the heart, this similitude illustrates the condition of the heart of the hypocrites.  While their hearts have access to the light of guidance, their hypocrisy, deception, arrogant combined with their evil, cynicism and duplicity fill their heart with darkness and thus the light cannot pass through it.  When this happens, they end like the deliberate rejecters of faith dumb, deaf, and blind.  They cannot hear the guidance, cannot utter words that may benefit them, and their sight is engulfed in total darkness and thus cannot return to the right path.

The second type of hypocrites in this Mathal is the hesitant type who still have a chance.   They still have some goodness in them, and Allah has not condemned them yet.  When they acquire some benefits of belief such as the victory of Muslims, they are content, but if Muslims suffer calamity, they are ready to revert to disbelief and fall back into confusion. In this example, Allah provides a simile of the one who overlooks the benefit of the rainstorm that brings life through the water it sends down and lightening that show him where to go and instead focuses on the fear associated with the darkness and the thunder. 

The second Mathl in the Quran is related to the mosquito to illustrate the difference between the response of the believers and that of the disbelievers towards Allah’s revelations and commands.  Allah says:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَذَا مَثَلًا يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ

“Allah does not disdain to set forth a “Mathal” even of a mosquito nor of anything bigger than it.    Those who believe know that it is the truth from their Lord; but those who disbelieve say: “What does Allah intend by such a “Mathal”?” By it many are misled and many and many are guided to the right path; yet it only misleads the rebels (Al-Fasiqeen).” (Al-Baqara 2:26)

This Mathal is given to differentiate between the believers and those whom Allah described as (فَاسِقِينَ) “Fasiqeen” regarding their reaction to the divine revelation.  Using the mosquito in this Mathal is intended to reinforce the belief of the believers and guide them to the straight path while it is also leads to misleading those who are (فَاسِقِينَ) “Fasiqeen”, because of their arrogance to question Allah’s wisdom in presenting Mathal using a small inspect such as mosquitoe.    The disbelievers react to this Mathal in a materialistic attitude by saying why Allah uses small weak insect, ignoring the fact that Allah is the creator of all creatures whether they are small or big, weak or strong ,and there is wisdom behind all creations.  Those who raise the question are demonstrating their poor intellectual judgment because it is more complicated to create a small creature with all the functions than a large one.  We know that making small components to do a certain function is more difficult and require more technology than making a large one.   One does not need to look farther than looking at what is happening to the size of systems such phones, televisions, radios, watches and computes and the required degree of advances and sophistication in technology to make them small.  

This Mathal is intended to present a fundamental article of faith.  Whatever is revealed from Allah should be automatically accepted by the believers as the truth without any argument or need for any rationalization.   But those who are weak in faith will question and ask justification for every revelation. This is the attitude of those whose bond with the belief in Allah is so weak and thus they will be going astray.  The attribute of those people is (فَاسِقِينَ) “Fasiqeen” that has been translated as: “who forsake the path, miscreants, immoral person, the rebellious, disobedient, transgressors, defiantly disobedient, and iniquitous who break their bond with God”.  

But the word root “Fasq” is used to describe the dates when they become so ripe that their skin is easily separated from the meat.   So, the word (فَاسِقِينَ) “Fasiqeen” describes those whose bond with the belief in Allah is so weak that they can easily be separated from it and thus become worthless as the skin of the dates.   The verses following this Mathal expanded on the attributes of those (فَاسِقِينَ) “Fasiqeen”.

To expand on understanding this Mathl, our youth need to study the Mosquito and its design and function to appreciate why Allah chose it in this Mathal.

The Third Mathl is giving a simile of the disbelievers:

وَمَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى يَنۡعِقُ بِمَا لَا يَسۡمَعُ إِلَّا دُعَآءً۬ وَنِدَآءً۬‌ۚ صُمُّۢ بُكۡمٌ عُمۡىٌ۬ فَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ

“The “Mathal” of those who disbelieve is as the likeness of one who shouts to those that hears nothing except a call and cry. (They are) deaf, dumb, blind, so they do not understand.” (Al-Baqara 2: 171)

In this Mathal Allah is presenting a scene of a shepherd, a flock of sheep, and a call by the shepherd.  The visual picture is of a shepherd shouting a command at his flock of sheep to move, but the sheep don’t understand and acting as if they are deaf, dumb, and blind.  They only hear a sound, and thus they do not follow the shepherd’s call. 

The scene is a similitude of the Prophet (PBUH) who is the shepherd and the disbelievers who are the like of the flock of sheep. The Prophet is making the call, but the disbelievers don’t understand the call because they are behaving as deaf, dumb and blind and thus they do not follow the Prophet’s call.

The 4^th Mathal presents the proper etiquette for giving of charity.  Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُبۡطِلُواْ صَدَقَـٰتِكُم بِٱلۡمَنِّ وَٱلۡأَذَىٰ كَٱلَّذِى يُنفِقُ مَالَهُ ۥ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ‌ۖ فَمَثَلُهُ ۥ كَمَثَلِ صَفۡوَانٍ عَلَيۡهِ تُرَابٌ۬ فَأَصَابَهُ ۥ وَابِلٌ۬ فَتَرَڪَهُ ۥ صَلۡدً۬ا‌ۖ لَّا يَقۡدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ مِّمَّا ڪَسَبُواْ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (٢٦٤)

“O you who believe! Do not nullify your charity by boasting and causing hurt, like those one who spends his wealth to show off before people but neither believe in Allah nor in the last day. So, his “Mathal” like a hard barren rock on which there is a little soil; when a heavy rain falls on it, it will be left a bare stone. They will not be able to gain anything of what they have done. And Allah does not guide those who reject faith” (Al-Baqara 2:264)

This Mathal warns the believers that their charity will be nullified if it is traced by hurt or reminders.  If they do so, they will be like those disbelievers who spend their money to show off.  People who act this way are like a flat huge stone that is covered with dust.  When rains come pouring in, the seed that has been placed in the thin soil will be washed away leaving the rock barren and thus no plant will grow.  This likeness of sowing a grain on a baren rock which has been coated with soil stands for spending money for the sake of showing off whose reward is null.

The moral lesson in this Mathal is that charity is invalidated if it is followed by mischief, reminders or insincerity. The Mathal also highlights the hypocritical trait of those who engage in this kind of charity. The Mathal has a hidden lesson by highlighting the principle of intention on Allah’s acceptance and rejection of the deeds.

The 5^th Mathal addresses individual accountability, Allah says:

ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلاً۬ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ٱمۡرَأَتَ نُوحٍ۬ وَٱمۡرَأَتَ لُوطٍ۬‌ۖ ڪَانَتَا تَحۡتَ عَبۡدَيۡنِ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا صَـٰلِحَيۡنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمۡ يُغۡنِيَا عَنۡہُمَا مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَقِيلَ ٱدۡخُلَا ٱلنَّارَ مَعَ ٱلدَّٲخِلِينَ (التّحْریم (

“Allah sets forth a “Mathal” for those who disbelieve, the wife of Nuh (Noah) and the wife of Lut (Lot). They were under two of our righteous slaves but betrayed them. So, they availed them nothing against Allah, and it was said: “Enter the Fire along with those who enter!” (Al-Tahrim 66: 10)

Throughout humankind history, women played a vital role as prototypical example of virtue as well as of dishonesty. This Mathal exposes the story of the wives of two Prophets, namely the wives of Prophets Noah and Lut, presenting them as a practical model for betrayal. The point in this Mathal is that in spite of being the wives of two righteous husbands, they will enter the hell because of their actions. The moral lesson is that the affiliation with the righteous people is not sufficient to give the person a privilege. Another lesson is that everyone is a subject to Divine Justice, and no one has immunity from Divine retribution beyond their good deeds. The Mathal also serves as a warning to all believers that they have to be aware of their ties since such ties may be a cause of Divine torments.

it is important that you also read and derive the moral lessons for the verse that gives a Mathal of a righteous woman who was married to a wicked husband.

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلاً۬ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱمۡرَأَتَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِذۡ قَالَتۡ رَبِّ ٱبۡنِ لِى عِندَكَ بَيۡتً۬ا فِى ٱلۡجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِى مِن فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَعَمَلِهِۦ وَنَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (١١)

“And Allah sets forth a “Mathal” for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh when she said: My Lord! Build for me, near You, a home in the Paradise, and deliver me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and deliver me from the unjust people.” (Al-Tahrim 66:11)

The 6^th Mathal gives a mental image of something that cannot be imagined and this is Paradise.  Allah says:

مَّثَلُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى وُعِدَ ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَ‌ۖ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِہَا ٱلۡأَنۡہَـٰرُ‌ۖ أُڪُلُهَا دَآٮِٕمٌ۬ وَظِلُّهَا‌ۚ تِلۡكَ عُقۡبَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَواْ‌ۖ وَّعُقۡبَى ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ ٱلنَّارُ (٣٥(

“The Mathal of the Paradise promised to those who have Taqwa: Underneath it rivers flow, its food is everlasting and so is its shade, this is the ultimate destination of those who have Taqwa, and the ultimate destination of the disbelievers is Fire” (Al-Rad 13:35)

Paradise, the main theme in this Mathal, is represented as an earthly paradise that has rivers and perpetual food with a shade that protects them from the heat. The goal is to stir people up and arouse their longing and love for it. What is noticed in this Mathal is that its enticement is according to people’s need. For the Arabs who live in a barren desert that lacks the blessings of water, shade and food, the Mathal focuses on what is valuable to them.  This Mathal goes with the logic that it is not valuable to entice with what is not desired. There are, however, other Amthal in the Quran that present other blessings in paradise to entice people of all cultures.  While the focus of this Mathal is paradise for the pious; the Mathal hinted to the fate of the disbelievers which is fire

Besides being intended to reflect enticement, characterizing the description as Mathal is to emphasize that this is merely an approximation because the real paradise cannot be described in earthly scenes because the real blessings in it cannot be imagined per a Qudsi Hadith in which the Prophet (PBUH) said that Allah said:

حديث قدسي رواه البخاري ومسلم ولفظه: عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله- صلى الله عليه وسلم-: قال الله تعالى: أعددت لعبادي الصالحين ما لا عين رأت ولا أذن سمعت ولا خطر على قلب بشر.

“I have prepared for my righteous servants what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has ever perceived.”

The 7^th Mathal is of those who have access to knowledge but ignore it, Allah says:

مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ حُمِّلُواْ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةَ ثُمَّ لَمۡ يَحۡمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ ٱلۡحِمَارِ يَحۡمِلُ أَسۡفَارَۢا‌ۚ بِئۡسَ مَثَلُ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (٥)

“The “Mathal” of those who were entrusted with the (responsibility of the) Taurat (Torah), then they did not bear it (ignore it), is like a donkey that carries a load of books. Evil in the example of people who reject Allah’s revelations. And Allah does not guide the people who are unjust.” (Al-Jumma 62:5)

This Mathal is intended to provoke the intended addressees and denotes a sense of their worthlessness and the loss of their minds by the way they treat the divine knowledge that they have access to. While this Mathal addresses the Jews, it also addresses Muslims who know Allah’s commands and do not act upon them.  It also addresses anyone who has access to certain knowledge but ignores it and thus gains no benefits from this knowledge.  Allah compares them to the donkey that is carrying on its back valuable books, yet it does not know the tremendous benefits they contain.

The choice of the donkey is intended to simulate someone who does not study the Book of Allah and does not work with it to feel disgust of himself.

The 8^th Mathal is a response to a Mathal given by the disbelievers who are heedless of their own creation.  Allah says:

وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلاً۬ وَنَسِىَ خَلۡقَهُ ۥ‌ۖ قَالَ مَن يُحۡىِ ٱلۡعِظَـٰمَ وَهِىَ رَمِيمٌ۬ (٧٨) قُلۡ يُحۡيِيہَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَهَآ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ۬‌ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلۡقٍ عَلِيمٌ (٧٩)

“And he (man) puts forth for Us a “Mathal” and forgets his own creation. He says: “Who will give life to these bones after they have been decomposed.?” (Yaseen 36:78)

This Mathal is presented in the form of metaphorical interrogation for the purpose of negating and making a comparison between Allah’s ability and Man’s ability who lacks the capability of reviving decomposed matters. The moral lesson comes in the response that is presented in the form of a dialogue supported by a logical and straight forward argument.  The response is addressed to the disbelievers who reject the resurrection and argue deceptively against the truth of the Last Day, the response is:

 قُلۡ يُحۡيِيہَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَهَآ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ۬‌ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلۡقٍ عَلِيمٌ (٧٩)

“Say: These will be revived by the One Who created them for the first time, for He is Knower of every creation.” (Yaseen 36:79)

This rational answer is not only for those who may have made the argument but for anyone who have similar doubts about the truth of hereafter by reminding them of their own creation.

The assignment for you and the students whom you encourage to study the Quran is to explain the following three “Amthal” and to also identify the proper translation of the term “Mathal” in these and the ones I discussed based on the definition of the English terms that are used for the term “Mathal” (i.e., which of the following terms is best used for each verse: proverbs, simile, similitude, likeness, parable, example, metaphor, likeness, description, comparison, allegory and analogy).  This exercise is part of building our youth’s cognitive capacity for analysis and logical thinking:  

The first Mathal to test your degree of understanding:  Allah gives the following Mathal:

مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡلِيَآءَ كَمَثَلِ ٱلۡعَنڪَبُوتِ ٱتَّخَذَتۡ بَيۡتً۬ا‌ۖ وَإِنَّ أَوۡهَنَ ٱلۡبُيُوتِ لَبَيۡتُ ٱلۡعَنڪَبُوتِ‌ۖ لَوۡ ڪَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ (٤١) إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعۡلَمُ مَا يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَىۡءٍ۬‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَڪِيمُ (٤٢)

“The “Mathal” of those who take as guardians other than Allah is the likeness of a spider that has made a house (for itself), while indeed the weakest of the houses is the house of the spider, if only they but know. (41) Surely, Allah knows whatever they invoke instead of Him. He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (Al-Ankabout 29:41-42) 

There are several technical issues that the youth need to study to analyze this “Mathal”. The youth need to study “the spider”, the engineering marvel of the spider’s house, the purpose behind the shape of the house and the social life of the spider.   The youth also need to study natural fibers to compare their physical properties to synthetic and metallic fibers to assess whether the verse’s description of the house of the spider as very weak is referring to physical weakness (i.e., the strength of the fiber) or to something else.

The 2nd Mathal to test your degree of understanding: Allah gives the following “Mathal”:

ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلاً عَبۡدً۬ا مَّمۡلُوكً۬ا لَّا يَقۡدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَمَن رَّزَقۡنَـٰهُ مِنَّا رِزۡقًا حَسَنً۬ا فَهُوَ يُنفِقُ مِنۡهُ سِرًّ۬ا وَجَهۡرًا‌ۖ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوُ ۥنَ‌ۚ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ‌ۚ بَلۡ أَڪۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ (٧٥) وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلاً۬ رَّجُلَيۡنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبۡڪَمُ لَا يَقۡدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَهُوَ ڪَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوۡلَٮٰهُ أَيۡنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأۡتِ بِخَيۡرٍ‌ۖ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِى هُوَ وَمَن يَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ‌ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ (٧٦)

“Allah puts forward a “Mathal” of an owned slave who has no control over anything, and (on the other hand), one on whom We have given good provision from Us, and he spends out of it secretly and openly. Are they equal?  All the praises be to Allah. But most of them know not. (75) And Allah puts forward the “Mathal” of two men, one of them dumb who is unable to do anything, and he is a burden on his owner, whichever way he directs him, he brings no good. Can he be equal to one who commands justice, and follows a Straight Path?” (Al-Nahl 16:75-76) 

This Mathal presents two analogies. One is direct analogy and the other is reverse analogy. The student needs to identify the two analogies and the entities being considered in them and to derive the lessons to be learnt for this Mathal. There could be more than one interpretation for this Mathal.

The 3rd Mathal for you to test for your degree of understanding: The power of the using the Amthal is demonstrated by Allah using this linguistic style to presence a reference to Himself, by saying

۞ ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشۡكَوٰةٍ۬ فِيہَا مِصۡبَاحٌ‌ۖ ٱلۡمِصۡبَاحُ فِى زُجَاجَةٍ‌ۖ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّہَا كَوۡكَبٌ۬ دُرِّىٌّ۬ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ۬ مُّبَـٰرَڪَةٍ۬ زَيۡتُونَةٍ۬ لَّا شَرۡقِيَّةٍ۬ وَلَا غَرۡبِيَّةٍ۬ يَكَادُ زَيۡتُہَا يُضِىٓءُ وَلَوۡ لَمۡ تَمۡسَسۡهُ نَارٌ۬‌ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ۬‌ۗ يَہۡدِى ٱللَّهُ لِنُورِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ‌ۚ وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلَ لِلنَّاسِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيمٌ۬ (٣٥)

“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The “Mathal” of His Light is that of a niche, in which there is a lamp, the lamp is in glass, the glass looks like a brilliant star, it is lit from a blessed tree, an olive, which is neither eastern nor western.  Its oil would almost glow forth (of itself), though no fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. And Allah sets forth the “Amthal” for mankind, and Allah is All-Knower of everything.” (Al-Noor 24:35)

This Mathal is very compelling that Imam Abu Hamed Al-Ghazali said regarding it: “no one can give this “Mathal what is deserves from explanation and interpretation”.

DUA

Appendix 1: Some Definition of Terms Used as Translation of Mathal

Proverb:  A simple and insightful saying, often metaphorical, that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience.

Parable: Short story conveying a deeper message to illustrate a moral attitude, or a religious principle.

Metaphor: A short phrase or paragraph that compares two seemingly unrelated things to make a point and thus provide identify hidden similarities.

Simile: A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. Similes differ from metaphors by highlighting the similarities between two things, while metaphors create an implicit comparison. 

Allegory: A story using real occurrences to deliver a broader message to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral one. 

Analogy: A speech that shows and possible explain how two things are alike, but with the goal of making a point about this comparison. Analogy is more complex than a simile or a metaphor, which aim only to show without explaining. 

Appendix 2: List of Amthal in the Quran (54 verses)

البقرة – الآية 17مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّا أَضَاءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ

البقرة – الآية 26۞ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ

البقرة – الآية 171وَمَثَلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي يَنْعِقُ بِمَا لَا يَسْمَعُ إِلَّا دُعَاءً وَنِدَاءً ۚ صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ

البقرة – الآية 261مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

البقرة – الآية 264يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَاتِكُم بِالْمَنِّ وَالْأَذَىٰ كَالَّذِي يُنفِقُ مَالَهُ رِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۖ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَأَصَابَهُ وَابِلٌ فَتَرَكَهُ صَلْدًا ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ

البقرة – الآية 265وَمَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ وَتَثْبِيتًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍ بِرَبْوَةٍ أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ فَآتَتْ أُكُلَهَا ضِعْفَيْنِ فَإِن لَّمْ يُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

البقرة – الآية 275الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا ۗ وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا ۚ فَمَن جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ فَانتَهَىٰ فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

آل عمران – الآية 59إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ ۖ خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

آل عمران – الآية 117مَثَلُ مَا يُنفِقُونَ فِي هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَثَلِ رِيحٍ فِيهَا صِرٌّ أَصَابَتْ حَرْثَ قَوْمٍ ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ فَأَهْلَكَتْهُ ۚ وَمَا ظَلَمَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَٰكِنْ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

الأنعام – الآية 122أَوَمَن كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَاهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَن مَّثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِّنْهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

الأعراف – الآية 176وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَاهُ بِهَا وَلَٰكِنَّهُ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ ۚ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ إِن تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَث ۚ ذَّٰلِكَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا ۚ فَاقْصُصِ الْقَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

يونس – الآية 24إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ وَالْأَنْعَامُ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَخَذَتِ الْأَرْضُ زُخْرُفَهَا وَازَّيَّنَتْ وَظَنَّ أَهْلُهَا أَنَّهُمْ قَادِرُونَ عَلَيْهَا أَتَاهَا أَمْرُنَا لَيْلًا أَوْ نَهَارًا فَجَعَلْنَاهَا حَصِيدًا كَأَن لَّمْ تَغْنَ بِالْأَمْسِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

يونس – الآية 27وَالَّذِينَ كَسَبُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ جَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ بِمِثْلِهَا وَتَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ مَّا لَهُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ عَاصِمٍ ۖ كَأَنَّمَا أُغْشِيَتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ قِطَعًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مُظْلِمًا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

هود – الآية 24۞ مَثَلُ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ كَالْأَعْمَىٰ وَالْأَصَمِّ وَالْبَصِيرِ وَالسَّمِيعِ ۚ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

الرعد – الآية 17أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌ بِقَدَرِهَا فَاحْتَمَلَ السَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَّابِيًا ۚ وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِي النَّارِ ابْتِغَاءَ حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَاعٍ زَبَدٌ مِّثْلُهُ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْحَقَّ وَالْبَاطِلَ ۚ فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَاءً ۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ

الرعد – الآية 35۞ مَّثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ أُكُلُهَا دَائِمٌ وَظِلُّهَا ۚ تِلْكَ عُقْبَى الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا ۖ وَّعُقْبَى الْكَافِرِينَ النَّارُ

ابراهيم – الآية 18مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ ۖ أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَرَمَادٍ اشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الضَّلَالُ الْبَعِيدُ

ابراهيم – الآية 24أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِي السَّمَاءِ

ابراهيم – الآية 25تُؤْتِي أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا ۗ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

ابراهيم – الآية 26وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ اجْتُثَّتْ مِن فَوْقِ الْأَرْضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍ

ابراهيم – الآية 45وَسَكَنتُمْ فِي مَسَاكِنِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ كَيْفَ فَعَلْنَا بِهِمْ وَضَرَبْنَا لَكُمُ الْأَمْثَالَ

النحل – الآية 60لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ مَثَلُ السَّوْءِ ۖ وَلِلَّهِ الْمَثَلُ الْأَعْلَىٰ ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

النحل – الآية 74فَلَا تَضْرِبُوا لِلَّهِ الْأَمْثَالَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

النحل – الآية 75۞ ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا عَبْدًا مَّمْلُوكًا لَّا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَمَن رَّزَقْنَاهُ مِنَّا رِزْقًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ يُنفِقُ مِنْهُ سِرًّا وَجَهْرًا ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوُونَ ۚ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

النحل – الآية 76وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَاهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

النحل – الآية 112وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آمِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ

النحل – الآية 126وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُم بِهِ ۖ وَلَئِن صَبَرْتُمْ لَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لِّلصَّابِرِينَ

الإسراء – الآية 48انظُرْ كَيْفَ ضَرَبُوا لَكَ الْأَمْثَالَ فَضَلُّوا فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَبِيلًا

الإسراء – الآية 89وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ فَأَبَىٰ أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ إِلَّا كُفُورًا

الكهف – الآية 32۞ وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَحَفَفْنَاهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعًا

الكهف – الآية 45وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا

الكهف – الآية 54وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِي هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۚ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلًا

الحج – الآية 73يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ لَن يَخْلُقُوا ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا لَهُ ۖ وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَيْئًا لَّا يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ۚ ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَالْمَطْلُوبُ

النور – الآية 35۞ اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ ۗ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

الفرقان – الآية 9انظُرْ كَيْفَ ضَرَبُوا لَكَ الْأَمْثَالَ فَضَلُّوا فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَبِيلًا

الفرقان – الآية 33وَلَا يَأْتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلَّا جِئْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَحْسَنَ تَفْسِيرًا

الفرقان – الآية 39وَكُلًّا ضَرَبْنَا لَهُ الْأَمْثَالَ ۖ وَكُلًّا تَبَّرْنَا تَتْبِيرًا

العنكبوت – الآية 41مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ كَمَثَلِ الْعَنكَبُوتِ اتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا ۖ وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ الْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ الْعَنكَبُوتِ ۖ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ

العنكبوت – الآية 43وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ ۖ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَا إِلَّا الْعَالِمُونَ

الروم – الآية 28ضَرَبَ لَكُم مَّثَلًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ هَل لَّكُم مِّن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُم مِّن شُرَكَاءَ فِي مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ فَأَنتُمْ فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ تَخَافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ

الروم – الآية 58وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۚ وَلَئِن جِئْتَهُم بِآيَةٍ لَّيَقُولَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُبْطِلُونَ

يس – الآية 13وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا أَصْحَابَ الْقَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَاءَهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ

يس – الآية 78وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلًا وَنَسِيَ خَلْقَهُ ۖ قَالَ مَن يُحْيِي الْعِظَامَ وَهِيَ رَمِيمٌ

الزمر – الآية 27وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

الزمر – الآية 29ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلًا فِيهِ شُرَكَاءُ مُتَشَاكِسُونَ وَرَجُلًا سَلَمًا لِّرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ۚ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

الزخرف – الآية 57۞ وَلَمَّا ضُرِبَ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ مَثَلًا إِذَا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ

محمد – الآية 15مَّثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ فِيهَا أَنْهَارٌ مِّن مَّاءٍ غَيْرِ آسِنٍ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّن لَّبَنٍ لَّمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ خَمْرٍ لَّذَّةٍ لِّلشَّارِبِينَ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ عَسَلٍ مُّصَفًّى ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ كَمَنْ هُوَ خَالِدٌ فِي النَّارِ وَسُقُوا مَاءً حَمِيمًا فَقَطَّعَ أَمْعَاءَهُمْ

الفتح – الآية 29مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِم مِّنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِي الْإِنجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْأَهُ فَآزَرَهُ فَاسْتَغْلَظَ فَاسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِ يُعْجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

الحديد – الآية 20اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَامًا ۖ وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٌ ۚ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ

الجمعة – الآية 5مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا ۚ بِئْسَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

التحريم – الآية 10ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا امْرَأَتَ نُوحٍ وَامْرَأَتَ لُوطٍ ۖ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَالِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَقِيلَ ادْخُلَا النَّارَ مَعَ الدَّاخِلِينَ

التحريم – الآية 11وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا امْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

المدثر – الآية 31وَمَا جَعَلْنَا أَصْحَابَ النَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَائِكَةً ۙ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ وَيَزْدَادَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِيمَانًا ۙ وَلَا يَرْتَابَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۙ وَلِيَقُولَ الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَالْكَافِرُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَمَا هِيَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ

الحشر – الآية 21لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ