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An-Nahl 76

Ayah 76 of 128 · Meccan

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلٗا رَّجُلَيۡنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبۡكَمُ لَا يَقۡدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيۡءٖ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوۡلَىٰهُ أَيۡنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأۡتِ بِخَيۡرٍ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِي هُوَ وَمَن يَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٧٦

And Allāh presents an example of two men, one of them dumb and unable to do a thing, while he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal to one who commands justice, while he is on a straight path?

Translation: Saheeh International (English)

Word by word

Each word's meaning and sound

  1. وَضَرَبَAnd Allah sets forthwaḍaraba
  2. ٱللَّهُAnd Allah sets forthl-lahu
  3. مَثَلٗاan examplemathalan
  4. رَّجُلَيۡنِ(of) two menrajulayni
  5. أَحَدُهُمَآone of themaḥaduhumā
  6. أَبۡكَمُ(is) dumbabkamu
  7. لَاnotlā
  8. يَقۡدِرُhe has poweryaqdiru
  9. عَلَىٰonʿalā
  10. شَيۡءٖanythingshayin
  11. وَهُوَwhile hewahuwa
  12. كَلٌّ(is) a burdenkallun
  13. عَلَىٰonʿalā
  14. مَوۡلَىٰهُhis mastermawlāhu
  15. أَيۡنَمَاWhereveraynamā
  16. يُوَجِّههُّhe directs himyuwajjihhu
  17. لَاnotlā
  18. يَأۡتِhe comesyati
  19. بِخَيۡرٍwith any goodbikhayrin
  20. هَلۡIshal
  21. يَسۡتَوِيequalyastawī
  22. هُوَhehuwa
  23. وَمَنand (the one) whowaman
  24. يَأۡمُرُcommandsyamuru
  25. بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ[of] justicebil-ʿadli
  26. وَهُوَand hewahuwa
  27. عَلَىٰ(is) onʿalā
  28. صِرَٰطٖa pathṣirāṭin
  29. مُّسۡتَقِيمٖstraightmus'taqīmin

Tafsir

Allah, may He be glorified, strikes another example to refute them, which is the example of two men: One of them is mute and cannot hear, speak or understand due to his deafness and muteness. He is unable to benefit himself or others. He is a heavy burden on the one who is in charge of and looks after him. Whichever direction he sends him, he brings no good and does not attain the objective. Can the person whose condition is like this be equal to one who is sound of hearing and speech, and who is of benefit to others. He instructs people to be just and he himself is upright. He is on a clear path that has no confusion or crookedness. How then do you - O idolater- equate Allah Who possesses the attributes of majesty and perfection with your idols who cannot hear or speak and who cannot bring any benefit or remove any harm?!

Al-Mukhtasar in interpreting the Noble Quran