۞ 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
وَلَئِنْ أَخَّرْنَا عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ لَّيَقُولُنَّ مَا يَحْبِسُهُۥٓ ۗ أَلَا يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمْ لَيْسَ مَصْرُوفًا عَنْهُمْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And if We hold back from them the punishment for a limited time, they will surely say, "What detains it?" Unquestionably, on the Day it comes to them, it will not be averted from them, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِى بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ ءَاوِىٓ إِلَىٰ رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ
He said, "If only I had against you some power or could take refuge in a strong support."
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَـٰلِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةً مِّن سِجِّيلٍ مَّنضُودٍ
So when Our command came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of layered hard clay, [which were]
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۗ وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْمَوْتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you are resurrected after death," those who disbelieve will surely say, "This is not but obvious magic."