And He said:

“Is he equal to one who commands justice and is on a straight path?”

This is a parable Allah presents concerning Himself and the idols associated with Him, as also expressed in His words:

“Say, ‘Do any of those you associate with Allah guide to the truth?’ Say, ‘Allah guides to the truth’”—to the end of the verse.

And He said:

“Is He who creates like one who does not create?”

And the following verses, up to His words:

“And they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.”

He thus declares that He creates, bestows blessings, and knows, whereas those they invoke besides Him create nothing, bestow no blessings, and know nothing. He also declares that they are lifeless. Can the two be equal? How, then, can they worship them besides Allah despite this distinction, greater than which there is none? That is why this is the gravest injustice and falsehood. Another example of this is His saying, Most High:

“Say, ‘Praise be to Allah, and peace be upon His servants whom He has chosen. Is Allah better, or those they associate with Him?’”

Thus, the two passages in which He says:

“Allah presents a parable: a slave owned by another, powerless to do anything, and one to whom We have given good provision from Us, who spends from it secretly and openly. Are they equal? Praise be to Allah! But most of them do not know.”

“Allah also presents a parable of two men: one of them is mute, powerless to do anything, and a burden on his master. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal to one who commands justice and is on a straight path?”

are both parables in which Allah makes clear that He and those they associate with Him are not equal. Similar examples are mentioned elsewhere. This distinction is self-evident to everyone; yet the polytheists, despite acknowledging that