The Eloquent Simile — The Highest Form of Comparison
balagha
Level: advanced
tasbiha
blg-002
أَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡ كَرَمَادٍ ٱشۡتَدَّتۡ بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِي يَوۡمٍ عَاصِفٍ
— إبراهيم 18
Simile types by particle: Mursal (explicit particle), Muakkad (no particle — eloquent simile), Mujmal (no stated point of comparison), Mufassal (complete).
In the Quran: "Their deeds are like ashes swept by a fierce wind" (14:18) — the disbelievers' deeds compared to ash in a storm: no trace, utterly scattered.
"Those who spend their wealth in Allah's way are like a grain that sprouts seven ears" (2:261) — the detailed simile embodies the multiplied reward.
Source: Al-Jurjani, Dala'il Al-I'jaz (p.86); Al-Zarkashi (3/393)
Question: What is the eloquent simile and what is its example in the verse?
Answer: Simile without stated point of comparison — "deeds like ashes" omits the comparison point, emphasizing the completeness of the likeness between futile deeds and scattered ash.