a fly, even if they all gathered for that purpose. And if a fly were to snatch something from them, they could not retrieve it from it. Weak are both the seeker and the sought!”

“They have not esteemed Allah as He deserves.”

This is a parable Allah has set forth. The fly is among the smallest creatures, yet all those invoked besides Allah cannot create a fly, even if they gather for that purpose. And if a fly snatches something from them, they cannot retrieve it from it.

Once it is clear that they cannot create a fly or wrest back what it snatches from them, they are all the more incapable of creating anything else or overpowering it.

An “example” is the original case and the counterpart to which something is compared, as He says:

“When the son of Mary was cited as an example, your people immediately raised a clamour over him.”

That is, when they made him a counterpart, they drew an analogy between him and their gods, saying, “If he was worshipped yet will not be punished, then the same applies to our gods.” Thus, they cited him as an example for their gods and began raising a clamour and expressing amazement, using him as an argument against the Messenger. Yet the distinction between him and their gods is plain, as He, Exalted is He, explained in His words:

“Indeed, those for whom We have already decreed the finest reward will be kept far away from it.”

And He said concerning Pharaoh:

“We made them a precedent and an example for those who came after.”

That is, an example from which lessons are drawn and against which others are measured: whoever acts as he did will receive the same recompense, so that people may take warning from him and not act as he did.

And He, Exalted is He, says:

“We have certainly sent down to you clarifying verses and an example from those who passed away before you.”

This refers to what He has recounted of the circumstances of past nations, from which lessons are drawn