سُوْرَةُ الْعَنْكَبُوْتِ

Surah Al-Ankaboot (29) — Ayah 41

The Spider · Meccan · Juz 20 · Page 401

‹
›
مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْلِيَآءَ كَمَثَلِ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ٱتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا ۖ وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ ٱلْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ۖ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿41﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

The likeness of those who take (false deities as) Auliyâ’ (protectors, helpers) other than Allâh is the likeness of a spider who builds (for itself) a house; but verily, the frailest (weakest) of houses is the spider’s house - if they but knew.

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

مَثَلُ mathalu (The) example
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna (of) those who
ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ ittakhadhū take
مِن min besides
دُونِ dūni besides
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi Allah
أَوْلِيَآءَ awliyāa protectors
كَمَثَلِ kamathali (is) like
ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ l-ʿankabūti the spider
ٱتَّخَذَتْ ittakhadhat who takes
بَيْتًۭا ۖ baytan a house
وَإِنَّ wa-inna And indeed
أَوْهَنَ awhana the weakest
ٱلْبُيُوتِ l-buyūti (of) houses
لَبَيْتُ labaytu (is) surely (the) house
ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ۖ l-ʿankabūti (of) the spider
لَوْ law if (only)
كَانُوا۟ kānū they
يَعْلَمُونَ yaʿlamūna know

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 41) {مَثَلُ الَّذِيْنَ اتَّخَذُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ اَوْلِيَآءَ …:} The real crime and self-oppression of all the nations and individuals destroyed by Allah’s punishment was associating partners with Allah, that they had taken other helpers and problem-solvers besides Allah. Now the polytheists of Makkah had also adopted the same way, so Allah made it clear by giving an example that those who consider anyone other than Allah as a helper are like a spider that builds a house. The benefit of a house is that it protects from cold, heat, rain, storm, and attackers, but the spider’s house neither protects it from cold nor heat, nor from rain or storm, nor from any attacker. Rather, it is so weak and fragile that it is destroyed by the slightest gesture of a hand. Considering anyone other than Allah as a deity, fulfiller of needs, or remover of difficulties is just as useless, because they cannot help anyone. All supports besides Allah are worthless; if they could help, they would have saved the previous nations from destruction, but the world has seen that they could not save them.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

41-1. That is, just as the spider’s web (house) is extremely weak and fragile, and with a mere gesture of the hand it is destroyed, considering others besides Allah as deities, fulfillers of needs, and removers of difficulties is exactly the same, that is, useless, because they too cannot benefit anyone. Therefore, reliance on others besides Allah is also as utterly fragile as a spider’s web. If these were stable or beneficial, then these deities would have saved the previous nations from destruction. But the world has seen that they could not save them.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

41. Those who take protectors other than Allah are like the spider who builds a house, and surely the weakest of all houses is the house of the spider [66], if only they knew.

[66]
The Example of the Idols of the Polytheists is Like the House of a Spider:

That is, the nations mentioned above were all involved in shirk (associating partners with Allah) and idol worship. They considered these very things as their problem-solvers, and in order to gain their pleasure, sacrifices were offered before them and offerings and vows were presented, in the hope that these patrons would remain pleased with them and come to their aid in times of distress. But the example of these idols or patrons of the polytheists is like that of a house of wood, which is so weak that with the slightest movement of a finger, it is torn apart and falls down. Similarly, when Allah’s punishment came upon these polytheists, with the very first and slightest blow of that punishment, the entire edifice of their expectations was shattered, and their idols remained lying wherever they were.
← Previous All Surahs Next →
Telegram
Facebook