Surah An-Nahl · سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ · Juz 14

Q 16:76

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَىٰهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

Translations

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?

Sahih International · EN

Et Allah propose en parabole deux hommes: l'un d'eux est muet, dépourvu de tout pouvoir et totalement à la charge de son maître; Quelque lieu où celui-ci l'envoie, il ne rapporte rien de bon; serait-il l'égal de celui qui ordonne la justice et qui est sur le droit chemin?

Muhammad Hamidullah · FR

Tafsir

Allah, may He be glorified, strikes another example to refute them, which is the example of two men: One of them is mute and cannot hear, speak or understand due to his deafness and muteness. He is unable to benefit himself or others. He is a heavy burden on the one who is in charge of and looks after him. Whichever direction he sends him, he brings no good and does not attain the objective. Can the person whose condition is like this be equal to one who is sound of hearing and speech, and who is of benefit to others. He instructs people to be just and he himself is upright. He is on a clear path that has no confusion or crookedness. How then do you - O idolater- equate Allah Who possesses the attributes of majesty and perfection with your idols who cannot hear or speak and who cannot bring any benefit or remove any harm?!

Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir al-Quran · Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies

Read Ibn Kathir (Ibn Kathir (abridged, English))

And Allah gives an example of two men, one of them dumb, who has no power over anything, and he is a burden on his master; whichever way he directs him, he brings no good. Is such a man equal to one who commands justice, and is himself on the straight path (76) 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 لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ (he brings no good.) meaning, he does not succeed in what he wants. هَلْ يَسْتَوِي (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 عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ 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.

Arabic text: Tanzil (Uthmani). Translations: Sahih International (en), Muhammad Hamidullah (fr). tanzil.net