وَيَعبُدونَ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ ما لا يَملِكُ لَهُم رِزقًا مِنَ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ شَيئًا وَلا يَستَطيعونَ

They worship powerless idols instead of God, idols that don’t have the power to provide for them from the heavens and the earth.

فَلا تَضرِبوا لِلَّهِ الأَمثالَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعلَمُ وَأَنتُم لا تَعلَمونَ

So, don’t set up parallels to God. God knows, and you don’t know.

ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا عَبدًا مَملوكًا لا يَقدِرُ عَلىٰ شَيءٍ وَمَن رَزَقناهُ مِنّا رِزقًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ يُنفِقُ مِنهُ سِرًّا وَجَهرًا ۖ هَل يَستَوونَ ۚ الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَل أَكثَرُهُم لا يَعلَمونَ

God presents an example: A slave, powerless and owned by his master, versus a man whom We’ve provided with a good livelihood, which he spends secretly and openly. Can they be considered equal? Praise be to God, but most of them don’t know.

وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَجُلَينِ أَحَدُهُما أَبكَمُ لا يَقدِرُ عَلىٰ شَيءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلىٰ مَولاهُ أَينَما يُوَجِّههُ لا يَأتِ بِخَيرٍ ۖ هَل يَستَوي هُوَ وَمَن يَأمُرُ بِالعَدلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلىٰ صِراطٍ مُستَقيمٍ

God illustrates another example: Two men, one mute, incapable of doing anything useful, is completely dependent on his master; no matter how he directs him, he brings nothing good. Can he be compared to one who promotes justice and follows a straight path?

وَلِلَّهِ غَيبُ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ ۚ وَما أَمرُ السّاعَةِ إِلّا كَلَمحِ البَصَرِ أَو هُوَ أَقرَبُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ قَديرٌ

To God belongs the unseen realms of the heavens and the earth. The coming of the Hour is as swift as the blink of an eye, or even swifter. God has power over everything.

أَلَم يَرَوا إِلَى الطَّيرِ مُسَخَّراتٍ في جَوِّ السَّماءِ ما يُمسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ في ذٰلِكَ لَآياتٍ لِقَومٍ يُؤمِنونَ

Don’t they see the birds suspended in mid-air? None sustains them except God. In this, there are signs for those who believe.

وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِن بُيوتِكُم سَكَنًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِن جُلودِ الأَنعامِ بُيوتًا تَستَخِفّونَها يَومَ ظَعنِكُم وَيَومَ إِقامَتِكُم ۙ وَمِن أَصوافِها وَأَوبارِها وَأَشعارِها أَثاثًا وَمَتاعًا إِلىٰ حينٍ

God provided you with homes for your comfort, and tents made from the hides of animals for your necessities during your travels and periods of rest. He gave you from their wool, fur, and hair, furnishings and goods for a time.

وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِمّا خَلَقَ ظِلالًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِنَ الجِبالِ أَكنانًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم سَرابيلَ تَقيكُمُ الحَرَّ وَسَرابيلَ تَقيكُم بَأسَكُم ۚ كَذٰلِكَ يُتِمُّ نِعمَتَهُ عَلَيكُم لَعَلَّكُم تُسلِمونَ

God has given you shade from what He created, and has provided you with retreats in the mountains. He gave you clothing to protect you from the heat, and armor to protect you from your violence. Thus, He perfects His blessings on you, that you may submit.

فَإِن تَوَلَّوا فَإِنَّما عَلَيكَ البَلاغُ المُبينُ

If they turn away, your duty is clear communication.

يَعرِفونَ نِعمَتَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنكِرونَها وَأَكثَرُهُمُ الكافِرونَ

They recognize God’s blessings, yet they reject them, for the majority of them are ungrateful.