Surah An-Nahl — Verse 76
The Bee · 16:76 · 76/128
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
Wadaraba Allahu mathalanrajulayni ahaduhuma abkamu la yaqdiru AAalashay-in wahuwa kallun AAala mawlahu aynamayuwajjihhu la ya'ti bikhayrin hal yastawee huwa wamanya'muru bilAAadli wahuwa AAala siratinmustaqeem
Translations of this verse 7
Saheeh International
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?
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
God presents another illustration: two men, one of them dumb, unable to do anything, a burden to his carer- whatever task he directs him to, he achieves nothing good- can he be considered equal to one who commands justice and is on the straight path?
Marmaduke Pickthall
And Allah coineth a similitude: Two men, one of them dumb, having control of nothing, and he is a burden on his owner; whithersoever he directeth him to go, he bringeth no good. Is he equal with one who enjoineth justice and followeth a straight path (of conduct)?
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Allah sets forth (another) Parable of two men: one of them dumb, with no power of any sort; a wearisome burden is he to his master; whichever way be directs him, he brings no good: is such a man equal with one who commands Justice, and is on a Straight Way?
Mufti Taqi Usmani
And Allah gives another example: There are two men. One of them is dumb who is unable to do anything, and he is a burden on his master. Wherever he directs him to, he brings no good. Can he be equal to the one who enjoins justice and is on the straight path?
Al-Hilali & Khan
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?
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
Allah sets forth another parable: There are two men, one of whom is dumb and has no power over anything; he is a burden to his master, and wheresoever his master directs him, he fails to bring forth any good. Can such a person be the equal of one who enjoins justice and himself follows the Right Way?
Reason for Revelation Asbāb al-Nuzūl
Arabic source: al-Wāḥidī / al-Suyūṭī, via Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies (CC BY 4.0)
قال تعالى: {وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَى مَوْلَاهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّهْهُ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي هُوَ وَمَنْ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَهُوَ عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ (76)} [النحل: 76].
218 - عن ابن عباس -رضي الله عنهما- في قوله: {ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا عَبْدًا مَمْلُوكًا لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ} قال: "نزلت في رجل من قريش وعبده، يعني قوله: {عَبْدًا مَمْلُوكًا} الآية، وفي قوله: {وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَبْكَمُ} إلى قوله: {وَهُوَ عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ} قال: هو عثمان بن عفان، قال: والأبكم أينما يوجهه لا يأت بخير، قال: هو مولى عثمان بن عفان، كان عثمان ينفق عليه، ويكلفه، ويكفيه المؤونة، وكان الآخر يكره الإسلام، ويأباه، وينهاه عن الصدقة والمعروف. فنزلت فيهما". واللفظ لابن جرير في التفسير ¬أخرجه ابن جرير: 14/ 151، والواحدي في أسباب النزول: 286 برقم: 563، وإسناده صحيح رجاله رجال الصحيح، وزاد السيوطي عزوه في الدر: 4/ 125 لابن المنذر وابن أبي حاتم وابن مردويه وابن عساكر.¥.