العنكبوت
The Spider
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
mathalu alladhīna ittakhadhū min dūni l-lahi awliyāa kamathali l-ʿankabūti ittakhadhat baytan wa-inna awhana l-buyūti labaytu l-ʿankabūti law kānū yaʿlamūna
The example of those who take allies other than Allāh is like that of the spider who takes [i.e., constructs] a home. And indeed, the weakest of homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.
inna l-laha yaʿlamu mā yadʿūna min dūnihi min shayin wahuwa l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīmu
Indeed, Allāh knows whatever thing they call upon other than Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
watil'ka l-amthālu naḍribuhā lilnnāsi wamā yaʿqiluhā illā l-ʿālimūna
And these examples We present to the people, but none will understand them except those of knowledge.
khalaqa l-lahu l-samāwāti wal-arḍa bil-ḥaqi inna fī dhālika laāyatan lil'mu'minīna
Allāh created the heavens and the earth in truth. Indeed in that is a sign for the believers.
ut'lu mā ūḥiya ilayka mina l-kitābi wa-aqimi l-ṣalata inna l-ṣalata tanhā ʿani l-faḥshāi wal-munkari waladhik'ru l-lahi akbaru wal-lahu yaʿlamu mā taṣnaʿūna
Recite, [O Muḥammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allāh is greater. And Allāh knows that which you do.
walā tujādilū ahla l-kitābi illā bi-allatī hiya aḥsanu illā alladhīna ẓalamū min'hum waqūlū āmannā bi-alladhī unzila ilaynā wa-unzila ilaykum wa-ilāhunā wa-ilāhukum wāḥidun wanaḥnu lahu mus'limūna
And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."
wakadhālika anzalnā ilayka l-kitāba fa-alladhīna ātaynāhumu l-kitāba yu'minūna bihi wamin hāulāi man yu'minu bihi wamā yajḥadu biāyātinā illā l-kāfirūna
And thus We have sent down to you the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān]. And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture believe in it. And among these [people of Makkah] are those who believe in it. And none reject Our verses except the disbelievers.
wamā kunta tatlū min qablihi min kitābin walā takhuṭṭuhu biyamīnika idhan la-ir'tāba l-mub'ṭilūna
And you did not recite before it any scripture, nor did you inscribe one with your right hand. Then [i.e., otherwise] the falsifiers would have had [cause for] doubt.
bal huwa āyātun bayyinātun fī ṣudūri alladhīna ūtū l-ʿil'ma wamā yajḥadu biāyātinā illā l-ẓālimūna
Rather, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is distinct verses [preserved] within the breasts of those who have been given knowledge. And none reject Our verses except the wrongdoers.
waqālū lawlā unzila ʿalayhi āyātun min rabbihi qul innamā l-āyātu ʿinda l-lahi wa-innamā anā nadhīrun mubīnun
But they say, "Why are not signs sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, "The signs are only with Allāh, and I am only a clear warner."
awalam yakfihim annā anzalnā ʿalayka l-kitāba yut'lā ʿalayhim inna fī dhālika laraḥmatan wadhik'rā liqawmin yu'minūna
And is it not sufficient for them that We revealed to you the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] which is recited to them? Indeed in that is a mercy and reminder for a people who believe.
qul kafā bil-lahi baynī wabaynakum shahīdan yaʿlamu mā fī l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa-alladhīna āmanū bil-bāṭili wakafarū bil-lahi ulāika humu l-khāsirūna
Say, "Sufficient is Allāh between me and you as Witness. He knows what is in the heavens and earth. And they who have believed in falsehood and disbelieved in Allāh - it is those who are the losers."
wayastaʿjilūnaka bil-ʿadhābi walawlā ajalun musamman lajāahumu l-ʿadhābu walayatiyannahum baghtatan wahum lā yashʿurūna
And they urge you to hasten the punishment. And if not for [the decree of] a specified term, punishment would have reached them. But it will surely come to them suddenly while they perceive not.
yastaʿjilūnaka bil-ʿadhābi wa-inna jahannama lamuḥīṭatun bil-kāfirīna
They urge you to hasten the punishment. And indeed, Hell will be encompassing of the disbelievers
yawma yaghshāhumu l-ʿadhābu min fawqihim wamin taḥti arjulihim wayaqūlu dhūqū mā kuntum taʿmalūna
On the Day the punishment will cover them from above them and from below their feet and it is said, "Taste [the result of] what you used to do."
yāʿibādiya alladhīna āmanū inna arḍī wāsiʿatun fa-iyyāya fa-uʿ'budūni
O My servants who have believed, indeed My earth is spacious, so worship only Me.
kullu nafsin dhāiqatu l-mawti thumma ilaynā tur'jaʿūna
Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned.
wa-alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti lanubawwi-annahum mina l-janati ghurafan tajrī min taḥtihā l-anhāru khālidīna fīhā niʿ'ma ajru l-ʿāmilīna
And those who have believed and done righteous deeds - We will surely assign to them of Paradise [elevated] chambers beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers
alladhīna ṣabarū waʿalā rabbihim yatawakkalūna
Who have been patient and upon their Lord rely.
waka-ayyin min dābbatin lā taḥmilu riz'qahā l-lahu yarzuquhā wa-iyyākum wahuwa l-samīʿu l-ʿalīmu
And how many a creature carries not its [own] provision. Allāh provides for it and for you. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing.