✨ A VERY BEAUTIFUL PARABLE FROM THE MOST BEAUTIFUL (ALLAH) ✨
Allah Ta‘ālā says:
> “He sends down water from the sky, then valleys flow according to their measure, and the torrent carries a swelling foam. And from that which they melt in the fire, seeking ornaments or utensils, arises foam like it. Thus Allah sets forth the parable of truth and falsehood. As for the foam, it vanishes, being cast away; but that which benefits people remains in the earth. Thus Allah sets forth parables.”
Imām Ibn Kathīr (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:
This noble verse contains two parables set forth regarding the truth in its firmness and permanence, and falsehood in its fading and destruction.
Allah the Exalted says: “He sends down water from the sky,” meaning rain. “Then valleys flow according to their measure,” meaning that each valley takes according to its capacity. Some valleys are large and can hold much water, while others are small and hold water only according to their size.
This is an indication of hearts and their differences: among them are hearts that can contain much knowledge, and among them are hearts that cannot contain much knowledge, rather they are constricted by it.
“Then the torrent carries a swelling foam,” meaning that on the surface of the flowing water in these valleys there appears foam rising above it. This is one parable.
His statement: “And from that which they melt in the fire, seeking ornaments or utensils,” until the end of the verse—this is the second parable. It refers to what is melted in fire of gold or silver seeking ornamentation, meaning to make jewelry, or copper or iron to make tools. Indeed, foam rises from it, just as foam rises on water.
“Thus Allah sets forth the parable of truth and falsehood,” meaning that when they come together, falsehood has no firmness nor continuity—just as foam does not remain with water, nor with gold or silver or other metals melted in fire. Rather, it disappears and perishes.
For this reason Allah says: “As for the foam, it vanishes, being cast away,” meaning it brings no benefit; rather, it scatters and breaks apart, flowing to the sides of the valley, clinging to trees, and being blown away by the wind. Likewise, the impurities of gold, silver, iron, and copper vanish and do not return at all. What remains is the water and the gold and the like—things from which benefit is derived.
Thus Allah says: “But that which benefits people remains in the earth.”
“Thus Allah sets forth parables,” just as He the Exalted says:
> “And these parables We set forth for mankind, but none understand them except those who have knowledge.” (al-‘Ankabūt 29:43)
Some of the Salaf said:
> “When I used to read a parable from the Qur’an and did not understand it, I would weep over myself, because Allah says: ‘But none understand them except those who have knowledge.’”
‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭalḥah narrated from Ibn ‘Abbās concerning Allah’s statement: “He sends down water from the sky, then valleys flow according to their measure,” that this is a parable Allah has set forth. Hearts receive it according to the degree of their certainty or doubt. As for doubt, it does not benefit alongside deeds; but certainty benefits its people.
This is His statement: “As for the foam,” meaning doubt, “it vanishes, being cast away; but that which benefits people remains in the earth,” meaning certainty.
Just as jewelry is placed into the fire and its pure substance is taken while its impurity is left behind in the fire, likewise Allah accepts certainty and leaves doubt aside.
Al-‘Awfī narrated from Ibn ‘Abbās concerning His statement: “He sends down water from the sky, then valleys flow according to their measure, and the torrent carries a swelling foam,” meaning the torrent carries what is in the valley of sticks and filth.
“And from that which they melt in the fire,” meaning gold, silver, jewelry, utensils, copper, and iron. Copper and iron have impurities, so Allah made the impurity of these metals like the foam on water.
That which benefits people is gold and silver; and that which benefits the earth is the water it drinks and thereby causes vegetation to grow. Allah made this a parable of righteous deeds, which remain for their doers, and evil deeds, which vanish from their doers—just as the foam disappears.
Likewise, guidance and truth come from Allah. Whoever acts upon the truth, it belongs to him and remains with him, just as what benefits people remains in the earth.
Similarly, iron cannot be made into a knife or a sword until it is placed into the fire, which consumes its impurities and brings out its good substance so it can be used. Likewise, falsehood will vanish.
When the Day of Resurrection comes, people will be brought forth and deeds will be displayed. Falsehood will disappear and perish, and the people of truth will benefit from the truth.
This interpretation has also been reported from Mujāhid, al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī, ‘Aṭā’, Qatādah, and many others from both the early and later generations.
Allah—Glorified and Exalted—also set forth at the beginning of Sūrah al-Baqarah two parables for the hypocrites: one involving fire and one involving water.
The fire parable is His statement:
> “Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, then when it illuminated what was around him…” (al-Baqarah 2:17)
Then He says:
> “Or like a rainstorm from the sky, within which is darkness, thunder, and lightning…” (al-Baqarah 2:19)
Likewise, He set forth two parables for the disbelievers in Sūrah an-Nūr, one of which is His statement:
> “As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage…”
A mirage occurs during intense heat. For this reason it is mentioned in the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections that it will be said to the Jews on the Day of Resurrection:
> “What do you want?”
They will say: “Our Lord, we are thirsty—give us water.”
It will be said: “Will you not approach?”
So they will approach the Fire, and it will appear as a mirage, crashing into itself.
Then Allah the Exalted says in another parable:
> “Or like darknesses in a deep sea…”
And in the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections from Abū Mūsā al-Ash‘arī (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
> “The example of what Allah has sent me with of guidance and knowledge is like abundant rain that falls upon land. Some of it is fertile soil that absorbs the water and produces much grass and vegetation. Some of it is hard ground that holds the water, from which Allah benefits people: they drink from it, graze their animals, irrigate, and cultivate. And some of it falls upon flat land that neither holds water nor produces vegetation. That is the example of one who understands the religion of Allah and benefits from what Allah sent me with, so he learns and teaches; and the example of one who does not raise his head to it and does not accept the guidance of Allah with which I was sent.”
This is a parable involving water.
In another hadith narrated by Imām Aḥmad: ‘Abdur-Razzāq narrated to us, Ma‘mar narrated to us, from Hammām ibn Munabbih, who said: This is what Abū Hurayrah narrated to us from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who said:
> “My example and your example is like that of a man who lit a fire. When it illuminated what was around him, moths and insects that fall into fire began to fall into it. He tried to restrain them, but they overpowered him and rushed into it.”
He said:
“That is my example and yours. I am holding you by your waists, pulling you away from the Fire: ‘Come away from the Fire!’ but you overpower me and plunge into it.”
This hadith is also recorded by al-Bukhārī and Muslim in their Ṣaḥīḥs.
This is a parable involving fire.
📚 Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Dār al-‘Ilmiyyah edition, vol. 4, pp. 384–386.
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