Intermediate
Allegory
Surah: Al-Jumuah (5)
Quranic Parables — Illustration and Clarification
مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ حُمِّلُواْ ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةَ ثُمَّ لَمۡ يَحۡمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ ٱلۡحِمَارِ يَحۡمِلُ أَسۡفَارَۢا
— الجمعة الآية 5
Definition: A tangible analogy to clarify or establish an abstract meaning in the mind.
Famous Quranic parables: "Like a donkey carrying books" (62:5) — the vivid satirical parable. "A grain sprouting seven ears" (2:261) — the motivating parable. "The spider taking a home" (29:41) — fragility and weakness. "Deeds like ashes" (14:18) — disappearance and annihilation.
Ibn Al-Qayyim: "The parables of the Quran are among its most beautiful verses — they bring abstract to tangible and address intellect, imagination, and emotion simultaneously."
Famous Quranic parables: "Like a donkey carrying books" (62:5) — the vivid satirical parable. "A grain sprouting seven ears" (2:261) — the motivating parable. "The spider taking a home" (29:41) — fragility and weakness. "Deeds like ashes" (14:18) — disappearance and annihilation.
Ibn Al-Qayyim: "The parables of the Quran are among its most beautiful verses — they bring abstract to tangible and address intellect, imagination, and emotion simultaneously."
Source: Ibn Al-Qayyim, Al-Amthal fi Al-Quran; Al-Zarkashi (1/460)
Test Yourself
What effect do Quranic parables have in conveying meaning according to Ibn Al-Qayyim?
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