This honorable Ayah contains two parables which affirm that truth remains and
increases, while falsehood diminishes and perishes. Allah said,
[أَنزَلَ مِنَ
الْسَّمَآءِ مَآءً]
(He sends down water from the sky,) He sends rain,
[فَسَالَتْ
أَوْدِيَةٌ بِقَدَرِهَا]
(and the valleys flow according to their measure,) each valley taking its
share according to its capacity, for some valleys are wider and can retain more
water than others which are small and thus retain smaller measures of water.
This Ayah indicates that hearts differ, for some of them can retain substantial
knowledge while others cannot entertain knowledge, but rather are bothered by
knowledge,
[فَاحْتَمَلَ
السَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَّابِيًا]
(but the flood bears away the foam that mounts up to the surface) of the
water that ran down the valleys; this is the first parable. Allah said next,
[وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ
عَلَيْهِ فِى النَّارِ ابْتِغَآءَ حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَـعٍ]
(and (also) from that (ore) which they heat in the fire in order to make
ornaments or utensils...) This is the second parable, whereas gold and silver
ore is heated with fire to make adornments with it, and iron and copper ore are
heated to make pots and the like with it. Foam also rises to the surface of
these ores, just as in the case with water,
[كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ
اللَّهُ الْحَقَّ وَالْبَـطِلَ]
(thus does Allah (by parables) show forth truth and falsehood.) when they
both exist, falsehood does not remain, just as foam does not remain with the
water or the gold and silver ores which are heated in fire. Rather, foam
dissipates and vanishes,
[فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ
فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَآءً]
(Then, as for the foam it passes away as scum upon the banks,) for it carries
no benefit and dissipates and scatters on the banks of the valley. The foam also
sticks to trees or is dissipated by wind, just as the case with the scum that
rises on the surface of gold, silver, iron and copper ores; it all goes away and
never returns. However, water, gold and silver remain and are used to man's
benefit. This is why Allah said next,
[وَأَمَّا مَا
يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِى الاٌّرْضِ كَذلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ
الاٌّمْثَالَ]
(while that which is for the good of mankind remains in the earth. Thus Allah
sets forth parables.) Allah said in a similar Ayah,
[وَتِلْكَ
الاٌّمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَآ إِلاَّ الْعَـلِمُونَ
]
(And these similitudes We put forward for mankind; but none will understand
them except those who have knowledge.) [29:43] Some of the Salaf (rightly guided
ancestors) said, "When I would read a parable in the Qur'an that I could not
comprehend, I would cry for myself because Allah the Exalted says,
[وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَآ
إِلاَّ الْعَـلِمُونَ]
(But none will understand them except those who have knowledge.)'' [29:43]
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that `Abdullah bin `Abbas commented on Allah's
statement,
[أَنَزَلَ مِنَ
السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌ بِقَدَرِهَا]
(He sends down water from the sky, and the valleys flow according to their
measure,) "This is a parable that Allah has set; the hearts carry knowledge from
Him, and certainty according to the amount of doubt. As for doubt, working good
deeds does not benefit while it exists. As for certainty, Allah benefits its
people by it, hence Allah's statement,
[فَأَمَّا
الزَّبَدُ]
(Then, as for the foam), which refers to doubt,
[فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَآءً
وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِى الاٌّرْضِ]
(it passes away as scum upon the banks, while that which is for the good of
mankind remains in the earth.) in reference to certainty. And just as when
jewelry is heated in fire and is rid of its impurity, which remains in the fire,
similarly Allah accepts certainty and discards doubt.''
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