Page 194 - Tafsir of surat at tawba repentance
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“Those who spend their wealth in Allaah’s path are like a corn seed
which sprouts seven ears, each ear containing one hundred seeds.
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Allaah multiplies (the gifts) of whomsoever He wishes.”
At other times, the mathal is used to discourage certain evil practices by
comparing them to distasteful things. For example, Allaah said the following
concerning backbiting:
zNóss9 @à2ù't br& óOà2ßtnr& =Ïtär& 4 $³Ò÷èt/ Nä3àÒ÷è/ =tGøót wur )
( çnqßJçF÷dÌs3sù $\GøtB ÏmÅzr&
“Do not backbite each other. Would anyone of you wish to eat the
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flesh of his dead brother? You detest it...”
The revulsion we all feel at the thought of eating the flesh of our dead brother
should be felt when we hear slander or backbiting.
The mathal may also be used to praise certain types of individuals or
disgrace and debase others in order to set up certain standards of acceptable
behavior. Figurative speech is generally a more moving and effective method of
communica-tion than direct commands and detailed explanations. Hence, Allaah
has used them frequently in the Qur’aan:
öNßg¯=yè©9 9@sWtB Èe@ä. `ÏB Èb#uäöà)ø9$# #x»yd Îû Ĩ$¨Y=Ï9 $oYö/uÑ ôs)s9ur )
( ÇËÐÈ tbrã©.xtGt
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Soorah al-Baqarah (2):261.
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Soorah al-Hujuraat (49):12.
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