Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 75

(Ayah75) ➊ The meaning of {ضَرَبَ اللّٰهُ مَثَلًا عَبْدًا مَّمْلُوْكًا …: ’’ عَبْدًا ‘‘} itself is "slave," yet the specification of {’’ مَمْلُوْكًا ‘‘} is mentioned because, in one sense, every person in the heavens and the earth is a {’’ عَبْدًا ‘‘}. It is said: «{ اِنْ كُلُّ مَنْ فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ اِلَّاۤ اٰتِي الرَّحْمٰنِ عَبْدًا }» [ مریم : ۹۳ ] "Whoever is in the heavens and the earth will come to the Most Merciful as a slave." So here, the intended meaning is the slave who is in the ownership of a person.

➋ In {وَ مَنْ رَّزَقْنٰهُ مِنَّا رِزْقًا حَسَنًا …:}, instead of saying {’’مَالِكًا‘‘} in comparison to {’’ مَمْلُوْكًا ‘‘}, it is said {’’ وَ مَنْ رَّزَقْنٰهُ مِنَّا ‘‘} because even if a human is an owner, whatever he possesses is what We have granted him. Along with this, he is reminded to keep spending, both secretly and openly, from what We have given, and not to hoard it considering it his own.

➌ { هَلْ يَسْتَوٗنَ :} That is, in associating anyone as a partner with Allah Almighty, the example of these people is like that of a powerless owned slave who cannot spend even a penny without his master's permission, being equated with a free person who owns his wealth and spends it openly and secretly wherever he wishes. So can this helpless slave and that free owner ever be equal? Even though both are human, similar in mental and physical structure and abilities, still they can never be equal. So if these cannot be equal, then can any idol or elder, prophet or angel, living or dead, all of whom are the creation and property of Allah, ever be equal to the Creator of the entire universe and the Owner of everything!? (Qasimi)

➍ { اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ :} Above, after mentioning the question "Can these be equal?", Allah Almighty Himself did not give any answer, because the answer is contained within the question itself, and every listener is compelled to say, "Never." Upon this, Allah Almighty praised Himself, because no one will explain to you as excellently as He does.

➎ { بَلْ اَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُوْنَ :} It is understood that among the People of the Book and the polytheists of Makkah, some recognized the reality of monotheism, but due to stubbornness and hostility, they remained firm on trinity and worship of the dead. There were also some who intended to believe at some point, but most of them did not even know the evil of polytheism; rather, following their forefathers, they continued on the path of polytheism, and this has been the condition of the majority.

75. 1. Some say that this is an example of a slave and a free man: the first person is a slave and the second is free. These two cannot be equal. Some say that this is an example of a believer and a disbeliever: the first is a disbeliever and the second is a believer. They are not equal. Some say that this is an example of Allah and idols (false deities): the first refers to the idol and the second to Allah. These two cannot be equal. The intended meaning is that even though a slave and a free man—despite both being human, both being creations of Allah, and having many things in common—you do not consider them equal in rank, honor, virtue, and status, then how can Allah and a stone idol ever be equal?

Allah sets forth a parable: there is a slave who is owned by another, having no power over anything, and another whom We have provided with good provision, and he spends from it secretly and openly. Are they equal [74]? All praise is due [75] to Allah alone, but most people do not know (even this simple matter) [76].

[74] Now, instead of the false examples of the polytheists, Allah presents a correct example that even a person of ordinary intellect can understand. And in this example, a new style of refutation of shirk is presented. For instance, one person is himself a slave; he does not own anything, nor does he have the authority to dispose of his master's property. Even if he wishes to spend something, he cannot, because he is utterly powerless. In contrast, there is another person who is free, independent, and the owner of vast wealth and property. He has complete authority to spend this wealth and property, and he continues to spend it at all times, both secretly and openly. So, can these two persons be equal? That is, on one side are the false deities who are themselves created, owned, and slaves. They possess nothing of their own. And if they are living beings, they are dependent for every single need. On the other side is the Being of Allah, who is absolutely sovereign, possesses the treasures of the heavens and the earth, and continues to spend them at all times. So, can Allah and the deities of the polytheists be equal?

[75]
The Refutation of Shirk: The Example of Asking from a Slave

In response to the question posed to the polytheists, they cannot say, "Yes, both can be equal." Now, if they say, "No, they cannot be equal," then it is as if the criminal has confessed to his crime. And if they remain silent or cannot come up with an answer, this is proof of their helplessness and lack of argument. Thus, in both cases, their shirk is invalidated, and Allah said to His Messenger that in either case, say, "Alhamdulillah." That is, praise be to Allah that at least something has reached them, and with this simple and understandable argument, your point has been understood by them.

[76]
The Practice of the Polytheists is Contrary to This

Despite understanding this straightforward and simple matter, their condition is such that if they need to ask something from their neighbor, they ask the owner of the house, not the slave, because the owner is authoritative, not the slave. But when it comes to the Creator and the created, they leave the authoritative Creator and extend their hands in supplication before the powerless creation. What could be greater ignorance and injustice than this?