| 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:
"Verily those on whom you call besides Allāh..."
This covers everything that is worshipped or invoked besides Allaah.
"...cannot create (even) a fly..."
Which is one of the most slightest and most insignificant of creatures, yet it is not within their ability to create this weak creature, not to mention anything greater than it.
"...even though they combine together for the purpose..."
Indeed even more decisive is the fact that if:
"And if the fly snatches away a thing from them, they will have no power to release it from the fly."
So this is the utmost degree of inability.
"So weak are the seeker..."
The one who is worshipped besides Allaah,
"...and the sought."
i.e. The fly. So each one of them is weak, yet even weaker than both of them is the person who devotes himself to this weak one (1) and gives him the position of the Lord of the creation.
Footnotes:
1. The one who is worshipped besides Allaah.
- Transcribed from: Parables of the Qur'aan | Shaykh Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Naasir As-Sa'dee
