Allegories, Analogies Or Similitudes In The Quran

Folks, here is an update.

My fellow LRTQ Campaign Bloggers Walski, Rapera, Marina and Anas Zubedy have written about the "cow head" protest in Shah Alam yesterday.

Read what Anas Zubedy has said New Bob Agency : What the Quran says about non Muslim places of worship.

Also what Jahamy has said at Rapera Hindu brothers sisters, please forgive these wayward folks

also Walski's Woe to the foolish aggressors

and Marina's Barbarians at the gate

There really is a solution for everything in the Quran, and they have argued most easily and convincingly from the Quran. I hope the Muslims and the non Muslims will appreciate the real utility of the Quran - especially for our country. Thank you.

By Syed Akbar Ali

If there were a circus with elephants in it, what would the elephants prefer to do? Or rather what should the elephants prefer to do? Hence a debate over circus elephants versus free elephants. Well its Friday again. A day to wash sins from the hearts and put it out to dry. That way the crocodiles cant get it too. Tears for the crocs. This is just allegorical talk.

In Malay an allegory would be a ‘perumpamaan’ or ‘perbandingan’. I was thinking about allegories, analogies, examples or similitudes in the Quran. In the Quran, the Arabic word for allegory, analogy, example or similitude is ‘mathalan’.

Some may even say ‘parable’.

The Malay word “misal” is also derived from this Arabic word mathalan.

Here is an interesting verse:

Surah 2:26 GOD does not shy away from citing any kind of allegory (mathalan) from the tiny mosquito and greater. As for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. As for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did GOD mean by such an allegory (mathalan)?" He misleads many thereby, and guides many thereby. But He never misleads thereby except the wicked.

An allegory or analogy may refer to something that is not true in reality but it can be imagined. Or it could be true in reality but not directly in front of our eyes.

It is a method by which the Quran teaches us something. Those who see the simple logic in the allegory will see the wisdom of the teaching but those who are wont to confuse things will split hairs and imagine things up. Here is an example:

Surah 2:261 O you who believe, do not nullify your charities by inflicting reproach and insult, like one who spends his money to show off, while disbelieving in GOD and the Last Day. His example (mathalan) is like a rock covered with a thin layer of soil; as soon as heavy rain falls, it washes off the soil, leaving it an unproductive rock. They gain nothing from their efforts. GOD does not guide disbelieving people.

I think the idea here is that we should give willingly and freely to charity. A charity done grudgingly or done to show off or being forced to do some charitable work is described like a rock with a thin layer of soil on that is not of much benefit to mankind. It becomes a barren rock.

Surah 13:17 He sends down water from the sky, causing the valleys to overflow, then the rapids produce abundant foam. Similarly, when they use fire to refine metals for their jewelry or equipment, foam is produced. GOD thus cites analogies (mithluhu) for the truth and falsehood. As for the foam, it goes to waste, while that which benefits the people stays close to the ground. GOD thus cites the analogies (mathala).

This is an analogy that highlights the difference between truth and falsehood. Truth has its own value, it shall prevail. Falsehood is like foam that is blown away – it gets blown away.

Surah 29:41 The allegory (mathalan) of those who accept other masters beside GOD is that of the spider and her home; the flimsiest of all homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.

The spiders web is made of filament that has a tensile strength which is actually stronger than steel (in comparison to size and weight) which can catch insects. But only the filament’s tensile strength is strong, the filaments themselves are too fine and hence the spiders web is constantly torn by winds, moving leaves, branches and animals.

The listen is - one who depends on other than a Divine inspiration is like a spiders web – you can get destroyed anytime.

Surah 13:35 The allegory (mathalu) of the Garden, which is promised for the righteous, is flowing streams, inexhaustible provisions, and cool shade. Such is the destiny for those who observe righteousness, while the destiny for the disbelievers is the Torment.

When we follow the deen or way of life ordained by God, it will bring us comfort, ease, plenty and safety. Here is another one:

Surah 47:15 The allegory (mathalu) of the Garden that is promised for the righteous is this: it has rivers of unpolluted water, and rivers of fresh milk, and rivers of wine - delicious for the drinkers - and rivers of strained honey. They have all kinds of fruits therein, and forgiveness from their Lord. (Are they better) or those who abide forever in the torment, and drink hellish water that tears up their intestines?

It is difficult to imagine a river of wine, a river of milk or river of 'strained' honey. (A winery emptying its contents to make a river? Or a dairy farm emptying milk to make a river? Or a bee farm emptying enough honey to make a river?). But this is a mathalan or allegory. We have to imagine it. It simply means plenty, comfort, security - all the good things.

Here are some closing verses:

Surah 17:89, And We have explained to man, in this Qur'an, every kind of similitude (mathalan): yet the greater part of men refuse (to receive it) except with ingratitude!

See also the same verse in Surah 18:54 and 30:58. Here is the last one :

Surah 62:5 The example (mathalu) of those who were given the Torah, then failed to uphold it, is like the donkey carrying great works of literature. Miserable indeed is the example of people who rejected GOD's revelations. GOD does not guide the wicked people.

So let us not reject God's revelations in the Kitab while we pretend to uphold it. We become like the Hee Haw.