• He who is faithful and obedient to his Master and he who is unfaithful to Him can never be equal

An-Nahl (The Bee) Verses 71 – 76

وَاللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِي الرِّزْقِ فَمَا الَّذِينَ فُضِّلُوا بِرَادِّي رِزْقِهِمْ عَلَىٰ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ أَفَبِنِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ

And God hath favoured some of you above the others in the provision of sustenance, now those who have been more favoured give not their sustenance to those whom their right hands possess, (the slaves) so that they may be equal therein; What! Is it then the bounty of God they deny? (16:71)

وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ بَنِينَ وَحَفَدَةً وَرَزَقَكُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ أَفَبِالْبَاطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَتِ اللَّهِ هُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ

And God hath given you wives of your own selves, and hath given you from your wives sons and grandchildren,1and sustained you of good things; What! Is it then in the falsehood they believe, and2(a) in the bounty of God (that) they disbelieve? (16:72)3

وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ رِزْقًا مِنَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ

“And they worship other than God that which owneth not for them any sustenance (aught) from the heavens and the earth, nor have they (whom they worship) any power?” (16:73)4

فَلَا تَضْرِبُوا لِلَّهِ الْأَمْثَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

So coin ye not any similitudes to God; Verily God knoweth (everything) and ye know not. (16:74)

ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا عَبْدًا مَمْلُوكًا لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَمَنْ رَزَقْنَاهُ مِنَّا رِزْقًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ يُنْفِقُ مِنْهُ سِرًّا وَجَهْرًا هَلْ يَسْتَوُونَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Setteth forth God the similitude (of two men: one) a slave, a property of another, who hath no power over aught, and (the one) whom We sustained from unto Ourselves a goodly sustenance, and he spendeth from it secretly and openly; Are the two equal? All praise is God’s! But most of them know it not. (16:75)

وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَاهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّهْهُ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي هُوَ وَمَنْ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

Setteth forth God the similitude of two men; one of them is dumb, unable to do anything, he is a burden to his master; wherever he (the master) sendeth him, he bringeth no good; can he be equal to him who enjoineth justice and he (himself) is on the straight5path? (16:76)6

Commentary

Verse 76

Compare the purity of character, conduct and the inimitable personal excellence of the First Holy Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib and his identity with the Holy Prophet, and what yeoman services he lent in the establishment of the faith, Islam, in the worst of the situations, to those whose character and conduct had to be remoulded and whose personal weaknesses, lack of faith and cowardice made them run away from the situations deserting the Holy Prophet and leaving him amidst the worst of his blood-thirsty enemies.

• 1. To continue posterity.
• 2. While.
• 3. Refer to verses 4:1 & 7:189.
• 4. Refer to verse 67:21.
• 5. Right.
• 6. From the parable in this and the next verse Islam appreciates and encourages to be active and useful to one’s self and the Society rather than retiring to seclusion useful to none and becoming a burden to others. (A.P.). Refer to verse 16:75.