Likening the gods of the Idolators to the House of a Spider

Al-Ankaboot · Ayahs 41–43 · View Ayah

Ayahs Covered

سُورَةُ العَنكَبُوتِ

Al-Ankaboot (The Spider)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

3 ayahs

مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْلِيَآءَ كَمَثَلِ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ٱتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًۭا ۖ وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ ٱلْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ۖ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ

The example of those who take allies other than Allah is like that of the spider who takes a home. And indeed, the weakest of homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

Indeed, Allah knows whatever thing they call upon other than Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

وَتِلْكَ ٱلْأَمْثَٰلُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ ۖ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَآ إِلَّا ٱلْعَٰلِمُونَ

And these examples We present to the people, but none will understand them except those of knowledge.

Common Words

39 total35 unique3 repeated

من3x

ٱلله2x

ٱلعنكبوت2x

مثل1x

ٱلذين1x

ٱتخذوا1x

دون1x

أولياء1x

كمثل1x

ٱتخذت1x

بيتا1x

وإن1x

أوهن1x

ٱلبيوت1x

لبيت1x

لو1x

كانوا1x

يعلمون1x

إن1x

يعلم1x

Ibn Kathir Commentary

Related Tafsir

Ibn Kathir

Likening the gods of the Idolators to the House of a Spider

This is how Allah described the idolators in their reverence of gods besides Him, hoping that they would help them and provide for them, and turning to them in times of difficulties. In this regard, they were like the house of a spider, which is so weak and frail, because by clinging to these gods they were like a person who holds on to a spider's web, who does not gain any benefit from that. If they knew this, they would not take any protectors besides Allah. This is unlike the Muslim believer, whose heart is devoted to Allah, yet he still does righteous deeds and follows the Laws of Allah, for he has grasped the most trustworthy handle that will never break because it is so strong and firm. Then Allah warns those who worship others besides Him and associate others with Him that He knows what they do and the rivals they associate with Him. He will punish them for their attribution, for He is All-Wise and All-Knowing. Then He says:

وَتِلْكَ الاٌّمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَآ إِلاَّ الْعَـلِمُونَ

(And these are the examples We give for mankind; but none will understand them except those who have knowledge.) meaning, no one understands them or ponders them except those who are possessed of deep knowledge. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Amr bin Murrah said, "I never came across an Ayah of the Book of Allah that I did not know, but it grieved me, because I heard that Allah says:

وَتِلْكَ الاٌّمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَآ إِلاَّ الْعَـلِمُونَ

(And these are the examples We give for mankind; but none will understand them except those who have knowledge. )"

Other Scholars on These Ayahs

Ayah 41

The likeness of those who choose besides God other patrons namely idols from whom they hope to profit is as the likeness of the spider that makes a home for itself in which to shelter. And truly the f...

Ayah 42

Truly God knows whatever thing mā functions like alladhī they call on what they worship read yad‘ūna ‘they call on’ or tad‘ūna ‘you call on’ besides Him other than Him. And He is the Mighty in His kin...

Ayah 43

And such similitudes in the Qur’ān We strike them We coin them for the sake of mankind; but none understands them none grasp them except those who know those who reflect.