Parables in the Quran
The likeness of those who take Awleyaa other than Allah is the likeness of a spider who builds a house. And verily the frailest of houses is the house of the spider, if they but knew. (Quran 29:41)
Object of the Parable
Have you ever looked closely at a spider’s web and its intricate display of design? The web is beautifully shaped with symmetrical designs of interesting web pattens. Allah has created the spider with the knowledge of how to spin and weave these beautiful shapes by equipping the spider with special glands that produce silk as a fluid. This fluid moves from the glands to long narrow ducts where it changes into a solid silk thread. The spinnerets are located on the tip of the abdomen. The Fibrous protein is as strong as nylon making a secure silken web for the spider’s home.
Although the spiders web is suited as a strong functional living quarters for the spider where they lay there eggs, catch there prey and seek shelter for needed rest, it is a very delicate structure that can be destroyed at any instance by just the brush of the human hand.
Meaning of Awleyaa
In order to properly understand this parable we must understand the context in which the word Awleyaa is used with its singular being Walee. Allah uses this word in several verses of The Quran in different contexts sometimes referring to the believers as His Awleyaa, other times referring to the believers as each others Awleyaa, and other times referring to The Christians and Jews as each others Awleyaa. However in the above verse Allah uses the word Awleyaa to describe all false objects of worship in which protection, support, help and assistance is sought. This is why He mentions Awleyaa ‘other than Him,’ placing emphasis on the fact that He is Al Walee, the All Perfect One Who offers Protection, Help and Support.
Allah is The Walee of those who believe, He brings them out from the darkness into light. And those who disbelieve, their Awleyaa are Taaghoot; they bring them out from light into darkness. Those are the dwellers of the Fire. They will abide therein forever (Quran 2:257)
The above verse further supports this definition of Awleyaa and restricts it to mean Taaghoot, where Taahghoot are all false objects of worship. So the meaning of Awleyaa in the context of verse 29:41 becomes clear after considering verse 2:257, and this is one of the principles of Tafseer in that The Quran explains The Quran.
Meaning of the Parable
The parable is beautifully descriptive and clear, in that those who commit Shirk, by worshipping false objects in creation, seeking protection, support and help from them, are only holding on to weak, frail and helpless desires, with these false gods having no powers of harm and benefit. These false gods cannot protect and support themselves let alone protect those who seek their protection.
In contrast, the believers worship Allah alone, associating no partners with Him; directing all acts of worship to The Creator and shunning all acts of worship to creation. So Allah is their Walee, in Him they trust and in Him they seek refuge, protection, help, and support in all their affairs. Truly they are the ones who have held onto a rope that will never break.
Written by Kamillah Khan
