A Fly

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ لَن يَخْلُقُوا ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا لَهُ وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَيْئًا لَّا يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَالْمَطْلُوبُ

“O mankind! A similitude has been coined, so listen to it (carefully): Verily those on whom you call besides Allāh, cannot create (even) a fly, even though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly snatches away a thing from them, they will have no power to release it from the fly. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought.” (Hajj 22:73)

Shaykh Abdur Rahmaan as-Sa’dee said:

This is a parable which Allaah has given to show the vileness of worshipping idols, and to explain the deficiency of the intellect of those who worship them, and the weakness of all of them. So He said:

“O mankind!”

Which is an address to the Believers and the Unbelievers. So the Believers will increase in knowledge and clarity, whereas the Unbelievers will have the proof established against them.

“A similitude has been coined, so listen to it (carefully) …”

Meaning: listen attentively to it and understand what it comprises. Do not meet it with inattentive hearts, nor with hearing that is turning away. Rather pay attention to it with your hearts and your hearing; and it is this:

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Which Tree Resembles the Believer?

The saying of the Messenger – صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

“Indeed there is a tree that does not shed its leaves, it resembles a Muslim. So tell me, which is it?”

So people started discussing the trees of the country side. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar said:

“I thought to myself that it was the date palm tree, but I was shy [and did not speak up].”

So they asked the Messenger – صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “Tell us what it is O Messenger of Allaah.”

He said: “It is the date palm tree.”

I mentioned this to ‘Umar who said:

“It would have been more beloved to me than such and such had you said it was the date palm tree.”

[Collected by al-Bukhaaree. Also collected by Muslim; the wording is for Muslim].

 

An-Nawawee comments:

There are a number of benefits in this Hadeeth:

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A Spider’s House

“The likeness of those who take (false deities as) Auliya (protectors, helpers) other than Allaah is as the likeness of a spider who builds (for itself) a house; but verily, the frailest (weakest) of houses is the spider’s house- if they but knew” (29:41)

Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan As-Sa’dee said:This is a parable given by Allaah for those who worship others along with Him, desiring by that to elevate, strengthen and benefit themselves. So it is made clear that the matter is contrary to their desires. Rather the example of such a person is like that of the spider which takes a house to protect it from heat and cold and harm.

“but verily, the frailest (weakest) of houses….”

The weakest and feeblest of them.

“…is the spider’s house..“

So the spider is a weak animal and its house is from the weakest of houses. So adopting it only increases it in weakness. Likewise those who seek to take others besides Allaah as protectors are needy and weak from every aspect, and when they take others besides Allaah to strengthen them and aid them then this only adds to their weakness and incapacity. So they place reliance upon them for attainment of many of their requirements. They submit their needs to them and consign them totally to them, expecting them to fulfill them, however they leave them in the lurch. So they gain nothing at all from them, and they do not aid them in the slightest.

So if they truly knew their own condition and the condition of those whom they take as protectors besides Allaah, then they would not take them as protectors. Rather they would free themselves from them and they would take as their Protector ,the Lord, the Fully-Capable One, the Bestower of Mercy; the One who is such that if the servant takes Him as his Protector, and places reliance upon Him, then He suffices all his needs pertaining to his religion and worldly life. So he is increased in strength: in his heart, his body, his condition and his actions”

• Parables of the Qu’raan || by: Ash-Shaykhul ‘Allaamah ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Naasir As-Sa’dee

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The Tree of Faith

See you not how Allâh sets forth a parable? – A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky (i.e. very high). Giving its fruit at all times, by the Leave of its Lord and Allâh sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember. (Ibrahim 14:24-25)

Allah has likened the statement of faith, which is the best of statements, with a tree that is the best of trees bearing these noble characteristics. Its roots are firm, it is always growing and maturing and it bears fruit all the time, directing its numerous benefits and delectable fruits to its owner and others.

This tree varies greatly in the hearts of the believers, changing in accordance to the variation of the qualities that Allah has described it with. Therefore it is upon the servant to hasten towards acquiring knowledge about it, its descriptions, that which leads to its existence and potency, its roots and its branches. It is upon him to expend his efforts in actualizing this tree in terms of knowledge and action for indeed his portion of goodness and success, happiness in this life and the Hereafter, is dependant upon the extent to which this tree (is implanted in the heart).

• Taken From: The Tree of Faith | Author: Allamah Abdur-Rahman al-Sa’di (d1376)

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