۞ مَثَلُ ٱلْفَرِيقَيْنِ كَٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْأَصَمِّ وَٱلْبَصِيرِ وَٱلسَّمِيعِ ۚ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ 24
Translations
The example of the two parties is like the blind and deaf, and the seeing and hearing. Are they equal in comparison? Then, will you not remember?
Transliteration
Mathalu al-farīqayn ka-al-a'mā wa-al-asammī wa-al-basīr wa-al-samī'. Hal yastawiyān mathalan? Afalā tadhakkarūn?
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a powerful analogy comparing the believers and disbelievers to the blind and deaf versus the seeing and hearing, emphasizing the vast spiritual and intellectual difference between those who accept guidance and those who reject it. Ibn Kathir explains that just as the blind cannot see the path and the deaf cannot hear warnings, so too the disbelievers are spiritually blind and deaf to the signs of Allah, making them fundamentally unequal to the believers. The rhetorical question challenges the listeners to recognize this obvious disparity and reflect upon it.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Hud's discussion of the Prophet's message and the rejection he faced from the Meccan disbelievers. It follows the parable of the two men—one who believed and one who disbelieved—and serves to reinforce the theme that belief and disbelief are not equivalent, nor can their followers be considered equal in their outcomes.
Related Hadiths
The general theme relates to Hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth' - illustrating how guidance reaches those with receptive hearts, just as rain reaches receptive soil.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that accepting divine guidance requires both spiritual sight and hearing—an openness of heart and mind to recognize truth. For believers, it serves as a reminder of their privilege in receiving guidance, and a call to reflect deeply on the signs of Allah rather than taking faith for granted.
Related Ayahs
وَقِيلَ يَـٰٓأَرْضُ ٱبْلَعِى مَآءَكِ وَيَـٰسَمَآءُ أَقْلِعِى وَغِيضَ ٱلْمَآءُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ وَٱسْتَوَتْ عَلَى ٱلْجُودِىِّ ۖ وَقِيلَ بُعْدًا لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And it was said, "O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]." And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and it [i.e., the ship] came to rest on the [mountain of] Jūdiyy. And it was said, "Away with the wrongdoing people."
قَالَ سَـَٔاوِىٓ إِلَىٰ جَبَلٍ يَعْصِمُنِى مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ ۚ قَالَ لَا عَاصِمَ ٱلْيَوْمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ۚ وَحَالَ بَيْنَهُمَا ٱلْمَوْجُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُغْرَقِينَ
[But] he said, "I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water." [Noah] said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allāh, except for whom He gives mercy." And the waves came between them, and he was among the drowned.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ
Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward.
فَلَوْلَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ أُو۟لُوا۟ بَقِيَّةٍ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْفَسَادِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّنْ أَنجَيْنَا مِنْهُمْ ۗ وَٱتَّبَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مَآ أُتْرِفُوا۟ فِيهِ وَكَانُوا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ
So why were there not among the generations before you those of enduring discrimination forbidding corruption on earth - except a few of those We saved from among them? But those who wronged pursued what luxury they were given therein, and they were criminals.