Page 215 - General Knowledge from the Qur'an

METAPHORS IN THE QUR'AN

here are some metaphors in some verses of the Qur'an. These
metaphors, that the All-Wise Allah makes, are very effective
T T and advance the understanding of those who read them.
Every one of these metaphors and descriptions illustrates the subject
in the most effective and the clearest way.
As for those who deny Our Signs and are arrogant regarding them,
the Gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, and they will not
enter the Garden until a camel goes through a needle's eye. That is
how We repay the evildoers (Surat al-A'raf, 40)
We will advance on the actions they have done and make them scat-
tered specks of dust. (Surat al-Furqan, 23)
The metaphor of those who reject their Lord is that their actions are
like ashes scattered by strong winds on a stormy day. They have no
power at all over anything they have earned. That is extreme misguid-
ance. (Surah Ibrahim, 18)
The parable of those who reject Faith is as if one were to shout like
a goat-herd, to things that listen to nothing but calls and cries: Deaf,
dumb, and blind, they are void of wisdom. (Surat al-Baqara, 171)
The metaphor of those who take protectors besides Allah is that of a
spider which builds itself a house; but no house is flimsier than a spi-
der's house, if they only knew. (Surat al-Ankabut, 41)
You who believe! Do not nullify your charity by demands for grati-
tude or insulting words, like him who spends his wealth, showing off
to people and not believing in Allah and the Last Day. His likeness is
that of a smooth rock coated with soil, which, when heavy rain falls
on it, is left stripped bare. They have no power over anything they
have earned. Allah does not guide disbelieving people. (Surat al-
Baqara, 264)
The metaphor of what they spend in their life in this world is that of a
wind with an icy bite to it which strikes the crops of a people who have
wronged themselves and destroys them. Allah did not wrong them;
rather it was themselves they were wronging. (Surah Al 'Imran, 117)