(27–31) “We have certainly set forth for people in this Quran every kind of parable, so that they may take heed—a Quran in Arabic, free of any crookedness, so that they may fear Allah. Allah sets forth a parable: a man belonging to several quarrelsome partners, and a man belonging wholly to one man. Are the two equal in comparison? All praise is due to Allah! Rather, most of them do not know. Indeed, you will die, and they too will die. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will dispute before your Lord.”
The Exalted informs us that He has set forth in the Quran every kind of parable: parables concerning the people of good and the people of evil, and concerning monotheism and polytheism. Every parable makes the realities of things readily comprehensible. The wisdom behind this is “so that they may take heed”: when We make the truth clear to them, they will know it and act upon it.
“A Quran in Arabic, free of any crookedness.” That is, We made it an Arabic Quran, clear in its wording, ⦗724⦘ and easy to understand, especially for the Arabs. “Free of any crookedness” means that it contains no defect or deficiency whatsoever, either in its wording or in its meanings. This necessarily entails its perfect balance and uprightness, as the Exalted says: “All praise is due to Allah, who sent down the Book to His servant and placed no crookedness in it, making it perfectly upright.”
“So that they may fear Allah,” for We have made the paths of piety—in knowledge and practice—easy for them through this upright Arabic Quran, in which Allah has set forth every kind of parable.
He then set forth a parable of polytheism and monotheism, saying: “Allah sets forth a parable: a man”—that is, a servant—“belonging to several quarrelsome partners.” They are numerous and agree upon no matter or course of action that might afford him rest. Rather, they quarrel and contend over him: each has a demand he wants carried out, while another wants something different. What, then, do you imagine the condition of this man to be among such quarrelsome partners?
“And a man belonging wholly to one man”—that is, devoted exclusively to him. He knows what his master wants and therefore enjoys complete ease. “Are the two equal”—that is, these two men—“in comparison?” They are not equal.
The polytheist is likewise subject to quarrelsome partners: he calls upon one and then another. You therefore find that he never has any stability and that his heart is never at peace. The monotheist, however, is sincerely devoted to his Lord. Allah has delivered him from having any partner besides Him, so he enjoys the fullest ease and most complete tranquility. Thus, “Are the two equal in comparison? All praise is due to Allah!”—for making truth distinct from falsehood and guiding the ignorant. “Rather, most of them do not know.”
“Indeed, you will die, and they too will die.” That is, all of you must inevitably die: “We did not grant immortality to any human being before you. So if you die, will they live forever?”
“Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will dispute before your Lord” concerning that over which you differed. He will judge between you with His just judgment and recompense each person for what he did: “Allah recorded it, though they forgot it.”