Surah Nahl ayat 76 Tafsir Quran 16:76

﴿وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَاهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ﴾
[ النحل: 76]

16:76 And Allah 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?

And God strikes a similitude mathalan this is substituted by the following rajulayn two men one of whom is dumb from birth having no power over anything as he cannot understand nor be understood and who is a liability burdensome to his master — the legal guardian of his affairs — wherever he directs him he does not bring therefrom any good he does not succeed and this is the similitude of the disbeliever. Is he that is the dumb one mentioned equal to one who enjoins justice that is to one who is able to speak of benefit to people since he enjoins it justice and encourages others to it and follows a path a way that is straight? — this being the second man the believer — No he is not equal to him. It is also said that this last similitude is a similitude of God while the similitude of the dumb one is of the idols so that the preceding verse contains the similitude of the disbeliever and the believer.

Again Allah cites an instance of two other men in illustration of a general truth: one of them is mute, unable to accomplish anything, totally dependent on his master for his livelihood. Wherever he sends him to perform a work he utterly fails to accomplish the desired end. Does he compare width his master who is whole just and keeps on the path of righteousness

Another Example Mujahid said, "This also refers to idols and the True God, may He be exalted." Meaning that the idol is dumb and cannot speak or say anything, good or otherwise.
It cannot do anything at all, no words, no action, it is dependent and is a burden on its master. أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ ( whichever way he directs him, ) meaning, wherever he sends him لاَ يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ( he brings no good. ) meaning, he does not succeed in what he wants. هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ( Is such a man equal ) meaning, a man who has these attributes وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ ( to one who commands justice ) meaning fairness, one whose words are true and whose deeds are righteous. وَهُوَ عَلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ( and is himself on the straight path ) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "This is also an example of the disbeliever and the believer", as in the previous Ayah.

(16:76) Allah cites another similitude of two men. One of them is dumb and deaf and cannot do any work, and has become a burden upon his master; wherever he despatches him, he does nothing useful. There is the other one, who enjoins justice and follows the Right Way. (Ask_ them): "Are these two men equal?" *69

And Allah presents an example of two meaning

*69) In the first similitude, distinction between AIIah and false gods has been made clear in regard to the possession of powers and the lack of these.
In the second one, the emphasis is on the use of those powers.
Allah is not only AllPowerful, but also hears all the prayers and fulfils all the needs, while the slave is utterly powerless.
He does not and cannot hear prayers, nor can make a response to them nor has the power to do anything at all.
He is totally dependent on the Master and quite incapable of doing anything by himself.
On the other hand, the Master is All-Powerful and AlI-Wise.
He enjoins justice on the world: whatever He dces is right and accurate.
Ask them, " Is it then a point of wisdom to regard such Master and such a slave as equal? "
 

Another Example Mujahid said, "This also refers to idols and the True God, may He be exalted." Meaning that the idol is dumb and cannot speak or say anything, good or otherwise.
It cannot do anything at all, no words, no action, it is dependent and is a burden on its master. أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ ( whichever way he directs him, ) meaning, wherever he sends him لاَ يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ( he brings no good. ) meaning, he does not succeed in what he wants. هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ( Is such a man equal ) meaning, a man who has these attributes وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ ( to one who commands justice ) meaning fairness, one whose words are true and whose deeds are righteous. وَهُوَ عَلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ( and is himself on the straight path ) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "This is also an example of the disbeliever and the believer", as in the previous Ayah.

Then Allah gave a simile regarding Himself and the idols, saying: ( And Allah coineth a similitude ) Allah explains the traits of ( two men, one of them dumb, having control of nothing ) he cannot talk, this is the idol, ( and he is a burden on his owner ) his guardian and relatives; ( whithersoever he directeth him ) or call him ( to go ) east or west, ( he bringeth no good ) he does not respond to his caller with any good; this is the parable of the idol. ( Is he equal ) in terms of bringing benefit and driving away harm, i.e. the idol ( with one who enjoineth justice ) the Oneness of Allah ( and followeth a straight path ) i.e. Allah’s divine Oneness, meaning Allah?

And Allah puts forward (another) example of two men, one of them dumb, who has no power over anything (disbeliever), and he is a burden to his master, whichever way he directs him, he brings no good. Is such a man equal to one (believer in the Islamic Monotheism) who commands justice, and is himself on a Straight Path?

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