سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 76
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَىٰهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿76﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And Allâh puts forward (another) example of two men, one of them dumb, who has no power over anything (disbeliever), and he is a burden on his master; whichever way he directs him, he brings no good. Is such a man equal to one (believer in the Islâmic Monotheism) who commands justice, and is himself on the Straight Path?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَضَرَبَ
waḍaraba
And Allah sets forth
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
And Allah sets forth
مَثَلًۭا
mathalan
an example
رَّجُلَيْنِ
rajulayni
(of) two men
أَحَدُهُمَآ
aḥaduhumā
one of them
أَبْكَمُ
abkamu
(is) dumb
لَا
lā
not
يَقْدِرُ
yaqdiru
he has power
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
anything
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
while he
كَلٌّ
kallun
(is) a burden
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
مَوْلَىٰهُ
mawlāhu
his master
أَيْنَمَا
aynamā
Wherever
يُوَجِّههُّ
yuwajjihhu
he directs him
لَا
lā
not
يَأْتِ
yati
he comes
بِخَيْرٍ ۖ
bikhayrin
with any good
هَلْ
hal
Is
يَسْتَوِى
yastawī
equal
هُوَ
huwa
he
وَمَن
waman
and (the one) who
يَأْمُرُ
yamuru
commands
بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۙ
bil-ʿadli
[of] justice
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
and he
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
(is) on
صِرَٰطٍۢ
ṣirāṭin
a path
مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ
mus'taqīmin
straight
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.
And Allah sets forth another parable: two men, one of them is dumb (and deaf), unable to do anything, and he is a burden on his master; wherever he sends him, he brings no good. Can he be equal to the one who commands justice and is on a straight path?
[77]
The Second Example of the Polytheists:
In the first example, the comparison was between having authority or not. In this example, a comparison of attributes is presented. On one side, there is a person or a thing that is mute, deaf, and also crippled, unable to walk or do any work. Even if its owner asks it to do something, it can never do the task properly; rather, it will spoil it, and wherever it goes, the owner only hears complaints about it, and in every way, it is a burden on its owner. On the other side, there is a healthy and sound-minded person who is himself on the right path and also commands others to walk the path of justice and moderation. Can their conditions ever be the same? Some scholars have applied this example to idols in comparison to Allah Almighty, and some have applied it to the polytheists in comparison to the believers or to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself.
[77]
The Second Example of the Polytheists:
In the first example, the comparison was between having authority or not. In this example, a comparison of attributes is presented. On one side, there is a person or a thing that is mute, deaf, and also crippled, unable to walk or do any work. Even if its owner asks it to do something, it can never do the task properly; rather, it will spoil it, and wherever it goes, the owner only hears complaints about it, and in every way, it is a burden on its owner. On the other side, there is a healthy and sound-minded person who is himself on the right path and also commands others to walk the path of justice and moderation. Can their conditions ever be the same? Some scholars have applied this example to idols in comparison to Allah Almighty, and some have applied it to the polytheists in comparison to the believers or to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself.
