سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 26
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِۦ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِى بِهِۦ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ ﴿26﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, Allâh is not ashamed to set forth a parable even of a mosquito or so much more when it is bigger (or less when it is smaller) than it. And as for those who believe, they know that it is the Truth from their Lord, but as for those who disbelieve, they say: "What did Allâh intend by this parable?" By it He misleads many, and many He guides thereby. And He misleads thereby only those who are Al-Fâsiqûn (the rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
لَا
lā
(is) not
يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ
yastaḥyī
ashamed
أَن
an
to
يَضْرِبَ
yaḍriba
set forth
مَثَلًۭا
mathalan
an example
مَّا
mā
(like) even
بَعُوضَةًۭ
baʿūḍatan
(of) a mosquito
فَمَا
famā
and (even) something
فَوْقَهَا ۚ
fawqahā
above it
فَأَمَّا
fa-ammā
Then as for
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believed
فَيَعْلَمُونَ
fayaʿlamūna
[thus] they will know
أَنَّهُ
annahu
that it
ٱلْحَقُّ
l-ḥaqu
(is) the truth
مِن
min
from
رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ
rabbihim
their Lord
وَأَمَّا
wa-ammā
And as for
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
disbelieved
فَيَقُولُونَ
fayaqūlūna
[thus] they will say
مَاذَآ
mādhā
what
أَرَادَ
arāda
(did) intend
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
بِهَـٰذَا
bihādhā
by this
مَثَلًۭا ۘ
mathalan
example
يُضِلُّ
yuḍillu
He lets go astray
بِهِۦ
bihi
by it
كَثِيرًۭا
kathīran
many
وَيَهْدِى
wayahdī
and He guides
بِهِۦ
bihi
by it
كَثِيرًۭا ۚ
kathīran
many
وَمَا
wamā
And not
يُضِلُّ
yuḍillu
He lets go astray
بِهِۦٓ
bihi
by it
إِلَّا
illā
except
ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
l-fāsiqīna
the defiantly disobedient
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 26) Before this, two examples of the hypocrites have been mentioned; in addition, in the Noble Qur’an, the fly [ حج : ۷۳ ], the spider [ عنکبوت : ۴۱ ], the dog [ اعراف : ۱۷۶ ], and the donkey [ جمعہ : ۵ ] have been presented as examples. When the disbelievers and hypocrites could not respond to the challenge of the Qur’an, they objected as to why Allah Almighty needed to present such examples. It was said that Allah Almighty can present anything as an example; it is not a flaw that Allah would feel shy about it. Whether the example is of a mosquito or something even more insignificant than it, such as a mosquito’s wing or a particle. “Something greater than a mosquito” can also refer to things bigger than it, such as a fly, a spider, etc. In reality, just as the greatest of creatures indicate Allah’s power and the helplessness of others besides Allah, likewise, the smallest of creatures are also masterpieces of Allah’s power. Then, if to make a point clearer, the example of a small creature is more appropriate, what is there to be shy about? {”اَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ“} in { ”اَنَّهُ“ } due to the information of { ”الْحَقُّ“ } coming as a definite noun, the translation "it is the very truth" has been made.
