Parables in the Holy Quran are a source of divine guidance. 4

Fourteenth: Prophetic Parables

If a parable means presenting the intended meaning in the form of something observable, adorning the intelligible with the form of the sensible, and making difficult truths accessible, then it is one of the tools of communication and instruction. For this reason, figurative representation became widespread in the Holy Qur’an, in the sayings of the Prophet, in the words of the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), and likewise in the expressions of eloquent speakers and the insights of the wise.

More than one scholar of hadith has undertaken to collect the Prophetic parables.

The contemporary researcher Shaykh Muhammad al-Gharawi—may God preserve him—mentioned in the introduction to his book al-Amthāl al-Nabawiyyah around ten books on Prophetic parables. With his own work, the number rose to eleven. He quoted from ʿAbd al-Majid Mahmud, the author of Amthāl al-Ḥadīth, the following statement:

“As for the parables found in hadith, they have not received the same attention as the parables of the Qur’an or the general Arabic proverbs. I have not seen any of the authors of the Six Books devote an independent work to them, nor assign them a separate chapter in their compilations, except Imam al-Tirmidhi, who devoted a section in his Jāmiʿ under the title: ‘Chapters on Parables from the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).’ Yet under this heading he mentioned only fourteen hadiths. Hence Ibn al-ʿArabi says: I have not seen anyone among the scholars of hadith who compiled a separate chapter on them except Abu ʿIsa—meaning al-Tirmidhi. How excellent he was! He opened a gate, or built a palace or a house, but only sketched a small line; yet we are satisfied with it and grateful to him for it.” (1)

Then our shaykh al-Gharawi gathered the scattered Prophetic parables into two large volumes, with explanations, arranging them alphabetically, and entitled his book al-Amthāl al-Nabawiyyah. It was printed in Beirut.

Here we mention samples of the Prophetic parables that al-Suyuti collected in al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, as an adornment for this book:

“The likeness of faith is like a shirt: sometimes one puts it on, and at other times one takes it off.”
“The likeness of the miser and the giver is that of two men wearing coats of iron from their chests to their collarbones. As for the giver, whenever he gives, it expands over his skin until it covers even his fingertips and erases his tracks. But as for the miser, whenever he wishes to give something, every ring clings to its place; he tries to widen it, but it does not expand.”
“The likeness of the house in which God is remembered and the house in which God is not remembered is that of the living and the dead.”
“The likeness of a righteous companion and an evil companion is that of the seller of musk and the blacksmith’s bellows. From the seller of musk, you will not fail to gain either by buying from him or at least enjoying his fragrance. But the blacksmith’s bellows will either burn your house or your garment, or else you will find from it a foul smell.”
“The likeness of a righteous companion is that of a perfumer: if he does not give you some of his perfume, you will still be touched by his fragrance.”
“The likeness of a woman who flaunts adornment among those to whom she should not is like the darkness of the Day of Resurrection, with no light in it.”
“The likeness of the five daily prayers is that of a flowing fresh river at the door of one of you, in which he bathes five times every day. What filth would that leave upon him?”
“The likeness of the scholar who teaches people goodness but forgets himself is that of a lamp: it gives light to people while burning itself.”
“The likeness of the heart is that of a feather turned over by the winds in an open land.”
“The likeness of one who frees a slave at the time of death is that of one who gives a gift after he has become full.”
“The likeness of one who learns knowledge and then does not convey it is that of one who hoards treasure and does not spend from it.”
“The likeness of one who learns knowledge in youth is like engraving on stone; and the likeness of one who learns knowledge in old age is like writing on water.”
“The likeness of one who sits listening to wisdom but reports from its speaker only the worst of what he hears is that of a man who came to a shepherd and said: ‘O shepherd, slaughter for me one sheep from your flock.’ The shepherd said: ‘Go and take by the ear the best of them.’ So he went and seized the flock’s dog by the ear.”
“The likeness of one who speaks on Friday while the imam is delivering the sermon is that of a donkey carrying books; and the one who says to him, ‘Be silent,’ has no Friday prayer.”
“The likeness of one who teaches people goodness but forgets himself is that of the wick: it gives light to people while burning itself.”
“The likeness of one who aids his people in falsehood is that of a camel that falls into ruin while dragging itself by its tail.”
“The likeness of those from my community who go forth to fight and take payment in order to strengthen themselves against their enemy is that of the mother of Moses: she suckles her child and receives her wage.”
“The likeness of the believer is that of the perfumer: if you sit with him, he benefits you; if you walk with him, he benefits you; and if you associate with him, he benefits you.”
“The likeness of the believer is that of the palm tree: whatever you take from it benefits you.”
“The likeness of the believer when he meets another believer and greets him is that of a building, each part strengthening the other.”
“The likeness of the believer is that of the bee: it eats only what is good, and it produces only what is good.”
“The likeness of the believer is that of a stalk of grain: it bends at times and stands upright at times.”
“The likeness of the believer is that of a stalk of grain: at one time it stands upright and at another it falls; while the likeness of the unbeliever is that of the cedar tree: it remains standing until it falls, and does not even perceive it.”
“The likeness of the believer is that of a tender plant: at one time it reddens and at another it yellows; while the unbeliever is like the cedar.”
“The likeness of the believer is that of a tender crop: wherever the wind comes upon it, it inclines it, and when the wind becomes still, it straightens. Such is the believer, who is bent by affliction. But the likeness of the wicked is that of the rigid cedar, upright and solid, until God breaks it when He wills.”
“The likeness of the believer who recites the Qur’an is that of the citron: its fragrance is pleasant and its taste is pleasant. The believer who does not recite the Qur’an is like the date: it has no fragrance, but its taste is sweet. The hypocrite who recites the Qur’an is like basil: its fragrance is pleasant, but its taste is bitter. And the hypocrite who does not recite the Qur’an is like the colocynth: it has no fragrance, and its taste is bitter.”
“The likeness of the believer is that of the bee: if it eats, it eats what is good; if it deposits, it deposits what is good; and if it lands on a dry branch, it does not break it. And the likeness of the believer is that of a bar of gold: if you blow on it, it reddens, and if you weigh it, it does not diminish.”
“The likeness of the believer is that of a ruined house outwardly, but when you enter it, you find it elevated within. And the likeness of the wicked is that of a lofty plastered grave: it pleases whoever sees it, while its interior is filled with stench.”
“The likeness of the believers in their mutual love, mercy, and compassion is that of one body: if one limb complains, the rest of the body responds to it with sleeplessness and fever.”
“The likeness of the fighter in the path of God is that of one who fasts and stands constantly in prayer, never ceasing from fasting or charity until he returns. God has guaranteed for the fighter in His path that if He takes his soul, He will admit him to Paradise, or return him safely with reward or spoils.”
“The likeness of a righteous woman among women is that of a black crow with one white leg.”
“The likeness of the hypocrite is that of a wandering sheep between two flocks: it inclines to this one at one time and to that one at another, not knowing which it should follow.”
“The likeness of the son of Adam, with ninety-nine causes of death beside him, is that if death escapes him through them, he will still fall into old age until he dies.”
“The likeness of my companions is that of salt in food: food is not made sound except by salt.”
“The likeness of my community is that of rain: it is not known whether its beginning is better or its end.”
“The likeness of my Household is that of Noah’s Ark: whoever boards it is saved, and whoever stays behind from it is drowned.”
“The likeness of Bilal is that of a bee: it goes out feeding on sweet and bitter, yet by evening all of it becomes sweet.”
“The likeness of Balaam ibn Baʿura among the Children of Israel is that of Umayyah ibn Abi al-Ṣalt in this community.”
“The likeness of Mina is that of the womb in its narrowness: when it carries, God makes it spacious.”
“The likeness of this world is that of a garment torn from its beginning to its end, remaining attached by a thread at the end; soon that thread will snap.”
“My likeness and the likeness of the Hour are like two racehorses. My likeness and the likeness of the Hour are like that of a man whom a people sent ahead as a scout; when he feared that he would be overtaken, he waved his garment saying: ‘You have been reached! You have been reached! I am that one, I am that one.’”
“My likeness and your likeness are that of a man who kindled a fire, and moths and insects began falling into it while he was trying to drive them away from it. And I am holding you back by your waistbands from the Fire, while you slip from my hand.” (1)

Parables in the Holy Quran are a source of divine guidance. 4

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Fourteenth: Prophetic Parables

More than one scholar of hadith has undertaken to collect the Prophetic parables.

Then our shaykh al-Gharawi gathered the scattered Prophetic parables into two large volumes, with explanations, arranging them alphabetically, and entitled his book al-Amthāl al-Nabawiyyah. It was printed in Beirut.

Here we mention samples of the Prophetic parables that al-Suyuti collected in al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, as an adornment for this book:

“The likeness of faith is like a shirt: sometimes one puts it on, and at other times one takes it off.”

“The likeness of the house in which God is remembered and the house in which God is not remembered is that of the living and the dead.”

“The likeness of a righteous companion is that of a perfumer: if he does not give you some of his perfume, you will still be touched by his fragrance.”

“The likeness of a woman who flaunts adornment among those to whom she should not is like the darkness of the Day of Resurrection, with no light in it.”

“The likeness of the five daily prayers is that of a flowing fresh river at the door of one of you, in which he bathes five times every day. What filth would that leave upon him?”

“The likeness of the scholar who teaches people goodness but forgets himself is that of a lamp: it gives light to people while burning itself.”

“The likeness of the heart is that of a feather turned over by the winds in an open land.”

“The likeness of one who frees a slave at the time of death is that of one who gives a gift after he has become full.”

“The likeness of one who learns knowledge and then does not convey it is that of one who hoards treasure and does not spend from it.”

“The likeness of one who learns knowledge in youth is like engraving on stone; and the likeness of one who learns knowledge in old age is like writing on water.”

“The likeness of one who speaks on Friday while the imam is delivering the sermon is that of a donkey carrying books; and the one who says to him, ‘Be silent,’ has no Friday prayer.”

“The likeness of one who teaches people goodness but forgets himself is that of the wick: it gives light to people while burning itself.”

“The likeness of one who aids his people in falsehood is that of a camel that falls into ruin while dragging itself by its tail.”

“The likeness of those from my community who go forth to fight and take payment in order to strengthen themselves against their enemy is that of the mother of Moses: she suckles her child and receives her wage.”

“The likeness of the believer is that of the perfumer: if you sit with him, he benefits you; if you walk with him, he benefits you; and if you associate with him, he benefits you.”

“The likeness of the believer is that of the palm tree: whatever you take from it benefits you.”

“The likeness of the believer when he meets another believer and greets him is that of a building, each part strengthening the other.”

“The likeness of the believer is that of the bee: it eats only what is good, and it produces only what is good.”

“The likeness of the believer is that of a stalk of grain: it bends at times and stands upright at times.”

“The likeness of the believer is that of a stalk of grain: at one time it stands upright and at another it falls; while the likeness of the unbeliever is that of the cedar tree: it remains standing until it falls, and does not even perceive it.”

“The likeness of the believer is that of a tender plant: at one time it reddens and at another it yellows; while the unbeliever is like the cedar.”

“The likeness of the believer is that of a ruined house outwardly, but when you enter it, you find it elevated within. And the likeness of the wicked is that of a lofty plastered grave: it pleases whoever sees it, while its interior is filled with stench.”

“The likeness of the believers in their mutual love, mercy, and compassion is that of one body: if one limb complains, the rest of the body responds to it with sleeplessness and fever.”

“The likeness of a righteous woman among women is that of a black crow with one white leg.”

“The likeness of the hypocrite is that of a wandering sheep between two flocks: it inclines to this one at one time and to that one at another, not knowing which it should follow.”

“The likeness of the son of Adam, with ninety-nine causes of death beside him, is that if death escapes him through them, he will still fall into old age until he dies.”

“The likeness of my companions is that of salt in food: food is not made sound except by salt.”

“The likeness of my community is that of rain: it is not known whether its beginning is better or its end.”

“The likeness of my Household is that of Noah’s Ark: whoever boards it is saved, and whoever stays behind from it is drowned.”

“The likeness of Bilal is that of a bee: it goes out feeding on sweet and bitter, yet by evening all of it becomes sweet.”

“The likeness of Balaam ibn Baʿura among the Children of Israel is that of Umayyah ibn Abi al-Ṣalt in this community.”

“The likeness of Mina is that of the womb in its narrowness: when it carries, God makes it spacious.”

“The likeness of this world is that of a garment torn from its beginning to its end, remaining attached by a thread at the end; soon that thread will snap.”

“My likeness and your likeness are that of a man who kindled a fire, and moths and insects began falling into it while he was trying to drive them away from it. And I am holding you back by your waistbands from the Fire, while you slip from my hand.” (1)

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