– He likewise likened polytheism and the idolater—who takes a patron other than Allah, seeking through him might and victory—to the spider that has built itself a house, though the frailest of all houses is certainly the spider’s house (29:41).

– He compared His revelation to life-giving rain, and the hearts of people to soils—some wholesome and receptive, others barren—and He spelled this out in detail.

These are tangible parables by which Allah clarifies beneficial truths.

Furthermore, the Exalted swears oaths by the fundamentals of the religion that people are duty-bound to believe in: monotheism, prophethood, the Resurrection, and everything that branches out from them.

Striking such parables is one of the ways Allah varies His signs for His servants, employing the loftiest and most stirring style of speech to lay bare the realities. Contemplate the Qur’an’s oaths and you will find them to be of this very nature. For that reason Allah urged their reflection and praised those who ponder and comprehend them, saying: “These parables We set forth for mankind so that they may reflect” (59:21), and in another verse: “None comprehend them except those endowed with knowledge” (29:43).