The Example of the Believer and the Disbeliever, or the Idol and the True God

An-Nahl · Ayahs 7575

Related Tafsir

Ibn Kathir

The Example of the Believer and the Disbeliever, or the Idol and the True God

Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "This is the example which Allah gives of the disbeliever and the believer." This was also the view of Qatadah and Ibn Jarir. The servant who has no power over anything is like the disbeliever, and the one who is given good provisions and spends of them secretly and openly is like the believer. Ibn Abi Najih reported that Mujahid said: "This is an example given of the idol and the True God - can they be the same" Once the difference between them is so clear and so obvious, no one can be unaware of it except the one who is foolish. Allah says:

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ

(All the praises and thanks are to Allah. Nay! (But) most of them know not.)

Ayahs Covered

سُورَةُ النَّحۡلِ
An-Nahl (The Bee)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
۞ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا عَبْدًۭا مَّمْلُوكًۭا لَّا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ وَمَن رَّزَقْنَٰهُ مِنَّا رِزْقًا حَسَنًۭا فَهُوَ يُنفِقُ مِنْهُ سِرًّۭا وَجَهْرًا ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوُۥنَ ۚ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Allah presents an example: a slave [who is] owned and unable to do a thing and he to whom We have provided from Us good provision, so he spends from it secretly and publicly. Can they be equal? Praise to Allah! But most of them do not know.

Common Words

27 total26 unique1 repeated
لا2x
ضرب1x
ٱلله1x
مثلا1x
عبدا1x
مملوكا1x
يقدر1x
على1x
شىء1x
ومن1x
رزقنه1x
منا1x
رزقا1x
حسنا1x
فهو1x
ينفق1x
منه1x
سرا1x
وجهرا1x
هل1x

Related Hadiths

Jami` at-Tirmidhi#2394

"There are three things for which I swear and narrate to you about, so remember it." He said: "The wealth of a slave (of Allah) shall not be decreased by charity, no slave (of Allah) suffers injustice...

Narrated by Abu Kabshah Al-Anmari narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:
Sahih al-Bukhari#7242

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Not to wish to be the like of except the like of two men: a man whom Allah has given the Qur'an and he recites it during the hours of the night and the hours of the day, ...

Narrated by Narrated Abu Huraira:
Sunan Ibn Majah#3966

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘The likeness of this nation is that of four people: A man to whom Allah gives wealth and knowledge, so he acts according to his knowledge with regard to his wealth, ...

Narrated by It was narrated that Abu Kabshah Al-Anmari said:
Jami` at-Tirmidhi#2053

"How wonderful it is for one of them that he obeys Allah and fulfills the rights of his master." Meaning the slave. And Ka'b said: "Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth."

Narrated by 'Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:
Sahih Muslim#4194

It is good for a slave that he worships Allah well, and serves his master (well). It is good for him.

Narrated by Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
Sahih al-Bukhari#6958

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Not to wish to be the like except of two men. A man whom Allah has given the (knowledge of the) Qur'an and he recites it during the hours of night and day and the one who...

Narrated by Narrated Abu Huraira:
Sahih Muslim#4192

When a slave fulfils obligation of Allah and obligation of his master, he has two rewards for him. I narrated this to Ka'b, and Ka'b said: (Such a slave) has no accountability, nor has a poor believer...

Narrated by Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
Sahih al-Bukhari#2184

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Your example and the example of Jews and Christians is like the example of a man who employed some laborers to whom he said, 'Who will work for me up to midday for one Q...

Narrated by Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar bin Al-Khattab:
Sunan Abu Dawud#3969

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: the similitude of a man who emancipates a slave at the time of his death is like that of a man who gives a present after satisfying his appetite.

Narrated by Narrated AbudDarda':
Sahih Muslim#4188

When a slave looks to the welfare of his master and worships Allah well, he has two rewards for him.

Narrated by Ibn Umar reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

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