until someone uses them as a proverb, becoming the first to do so, as with the Prophet’s sayings—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—“Now the battle rages fiercely!” and “A kindler of war!” and similar expressions.

However, negation expressed through a rhetorical question conveying rejection contains within it the evidence for that negation, so it cannot be countered by a bare denial. For one uses such a question to negate only that for which the grounds of negation are evident, or claimed to be evident. The person employing it is therefore either sound in his inference and analogical reasoning or ignorant, like the one who said:

“Who will give life to bones when they have crumbled to dust?”

Once this is clear, the parables set forth in the Quran include some explicitly called parables and others not called by that name. … (1)

“Their example is like that of one who kindled a fire,” and the parable immediately following it;

“Allah is not ashamed to set forth a parable of a mosquito or anything beyond it”;

“The example of those who disbelieve is like that of one who calls out”;

“While there has not yet come to you the like of what befell those who passed away before you”;

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah”;

“Do not nullify your charities by reminders of your generosity and by causing hurt, like one who spends his wealth to be seen by people”—the verse;

“And the example of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s pleasure.”

The passage following this does not contain the word “parable.”

“Like the way of Pharaoh’s people”—in all three occurrences;

“There has already been a sign for you”;

“The example of what they spend in this worldly life”;

And His words:

“Have you considered: if Allah took away your hearing?”