Thus, in describing the nursing woman, He used the feminine suffix that denotes actual nursing, rather than mere readiness for it. In describing the pregnant woman, He used an expression establishing that she is carrying a pregnancy that can be delivered. And Allah, glorified and exalted is He, knows best.

[Surah al-Hajj (22): Verses 30–31]

“That is so. Whoever honors what Allah has made sacred, it is better for him in the sight of his Lord. Livestock have been made lawful for you, except for what is recited to you. So shun the filth of idols and shun false speech, (30) being devoted to Allah alone, associating nothing with Him. Whoever associates partners with Allah is as though he had fallen from the sky and been snatched away by birds, or swept by the wind to a distant place. (31)”

Reflect on this comparison and how closely it matches the condition of someone who associates partners with Allah and attaches himself to others besides Him.

This comparison may be understood in two ways.

The first is to understand it as a composite comparison. Someone who associates partners with Allah and worships others alongside Him is likened to a man who has brought upon himself destruction from which there is no hope of escape. His condition is portrayed as that of someone who falls from the sky and is snatched up by birds in midair, his body torn into pieces and scattered in their crops; or someone swept away by a violent wind until it casts him into some remote place.

On this interpretation, one does not consider each individual element of the subject and its counterpart in the image separately.

The second is to understand it as a comparison whose elements are considered separately, matching each element of the subject with its counterpart in the image.

On this interpretation, faith and belief in Allah’s oneness, in their height, breadth, and nobility, are likened to heaven, to which they ascend and from which they descend. From heaven they descended to earth, and to it they ascend from earth.

The person who abandons faith and belief in Allah’s oneness is likened to someone falling from heaven to the lowest depths, in respect of the intense constriction and mounting agonies. The birds that snatch away his limbs and tear him utterly apart are likened to the devils whom He, glorified and exalted is He, sends against him, relentlessly goading him, harrying him, and driving him toward places where he is likely to perish. Each devil takes a piece of his religion and his heart, just as each bird takes a piece of his flesh and limbs. The wind that sweeps him to a distant place is his own desire, which drives him