Indeed, Allāh is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allāh intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient,
Sahih International
Grammar, phrase by phrase
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ
(Indeed, Allāh)
Root اله — god · 2,851 times in the Quran
۞ إِنَّword 1
Accusative Particle (إنّ) · حرف مشبه بالفعلإِنَّ 'indeed' — carrying the doubling shaddah ـّ, a small w-shaped mark — is a particle of the family حرف مشبه بالفعل that opens a topic-plus-comment sentence, adds emphasis, and pushes its topic into the accusative, the fathah ـَ form: 'Indeed, Allāh…'. L15 · R2
ٱللَّهَword 2
Noun · اسمA noun is a naming word — it covers proper names as well as things and ideas. ٱللَّهَ is the proper name of Allah, from the root اله, god. L1 · R6
Accusative · منصوبThe accusative is the ending shown by a fathah ـَ — a small slanted stroke above the last letter. ٱللَّهَ ends in that fathah ـَ because it is the topic of إِنَّ, and إِنَّ pushes its own topic into the accusative. L2 · R11
لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ
(…is not timid)
Root حيي — to live, give life, revive; life, living · 184 times in the Quran
لَاword 3
Particle · حرفA particle is a small helper word with no meaning standing alone; it takes no ending and does not name or act. لَا is such a helper word here. L1 · R8
Negation Particle · حرف نفيA negation particle is a word meaning 'not', flipping a statement to its opposite. لَا negates the ongoing action after it: He 'is NOT timid' to present an example. L4 · R5
يَسْتَحْىِۦٓword 4
Verb · فعلA verb is a word for an action tied to a time. يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ names an action — being shy, holding back — from the root حيي, to live, give life. L1 · R7
Present Tense Verb · فعل مضارعA present tense verb describes an ongoing action and opens with one of the four prefixes أ ن ي ت. يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ opens with يَ, the 'he' marker. L8 · R3
Weak Verb · فعل معتلA weak verb is one whose root contains the weak letter و or ي — letters that love to soften into long vowels or vanish. The root of يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ is حيي, carrying the weak ي twice; that is why the word's tail is spelled with a soft ى sound rather than firm letters. L24 · R2
Doubled Verb · فعل مضاعفA doubled verb is one whose second and third root letters are the same letter — normally written once with the shaddah ـّ, the small w-shaped doubling mark. The root حيي repeats its ي as both second and third letters, so this verb belongs to the doubled family; because that repeated letter is also a weak letter, no shaddah shows here. L24 · R10
Form X Verb · اِسْتَفْعَلَA Form X verb is identified by the addition اِسْتَـ in front of the root letters. In the present-tense shape يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ that addition shows as سْتَ right after the prefix يَ, marking it as Form X. L13 · R6
أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًۭا
(…to present an example -)
Root ضرب — to strike, set forth (examples), travel · 58 times in the Quran
Root مثل — to resemble, be like; example, likeness, similitude · 169 times in the Quran
أَنword 5
Maṣdar Particle · حرف مصدريA maṣdar particle like أَن 'to/that' turns the verb after it into an action-idea — 'to present' works like the single naming word 'the presenting' — and it puts that verb into the subjunctive, the mood usually shown by a fathah ـَ, a small stroke above the verb's last letter. L20 · R15
يَضْرِبَword 6
Verb · فعلA verb is a word for an action tied to a time. يَضْرِبَ names an action — setting forth — from the root ضرب, to strike, set forth (examples). L1 · R7
Present Tense Verb · فعل مضارعA present tense verb opens with one of the four prefixes أ ن ي ت. يَضْرِبَ opens with يَ, the 'He' marker: 'He presents'. L8 · R3
Subjunctive Mood · الفعل المنصوبThe subjunctive mood is the shape a present tense verb takes after a particle like أَنْ 'to', its sign being a fathah ـَ — a small slanted stroke — on the final letter. يَضْرِبَ ends in exactly that fathah ـَ on the ب because أَن stands before it. L10 · R4
مَثَلًۭاword 7
Noun · اسمA word that accepts tanwīn — the doubled end-vowel marks ـٌ ـً ـٍ — is a noun, a naming word. مَثَلًۭا ends in the doubled fathah ـً and names a thing: an example, from the root مثل, to resemble; example, likeness. L1 · R2
Masculine Noun · اسم مذكرArabic treats every naming word as grammatically 'he' or 'she'. This word carries no feminine marker such as a ة at its end, so it falls to the default and is treated as 'he': a masculine noun. L2 · R3
Indefinite Noun · نكرةAn indefinite noun means 'a' or 'any' — no particular one — and shows this with tanwīn, the doubled end-vowel mark. مَثَلًۭا ends in the doubled fathah ـً: 'an example', any example at all. L2 · R8
Accusative · منصوبThe accusative is the ending a naming word takes when the action lands on it, shown by a fathah ـَ — a small slanted stroke above the last letter — doubled to tanwīn ـً when the word is indefinite. مَثَلًۭا ends in that doubled fathah ـً. L2 · R11
Direct Object · مفعول بهThe direct object is the thing the action lands on, in the accusative — here the doubled fathah ـً above the last letter. The presenting of يَضْرِبَ lands on مَثَلًۭا: what He presents is an example. L9 · R3
Qatadah said: Allah does not shy away from the truth when He mentions a matter as a parable, whether this matter is significant or not.
Ibn Kathir (abridged), on 2:26
مَّا بَعُوضَةًۭ
(…that of a mosquito)
Root بعض — some, part, a portion · 158 times in the Quran
مَّاword 8
Supplementary Particle · حرف زائدA supplementary particle is an extra word added for weight — removing it would not change the core meaning, but it presses the point. مَّا here leans on what follows: an example of 'even' a mosquito. L14 · R4
بَعُوضَةًۭword 9
Noun · اسمA word ending with the letter ة (tā marbūṭah) is a noun — a naming word. بَعُوضَةًۭ ends in that ة and names a creature: a mosquito. L1 · R3
Feminine Noun · اسم مؤنثA feminine noun is a naming word Arabic treats as 'she', typically marked by a ة at its end. بَعُوضَةًۭ carries that ة, so it is treated as feminine. L2 · R1
Indefinite Noun · نكرةAn indefinite noun means 'a' or 'any' — no particular one — and shows this with tanwīn, the doubled end-vowel mark. بَعُوضَةًۭ ends in the doubled fathah ـً: 'a mosquito', any mosquito. L2 · R8
Accusative · منصوبThe accusative is the ending shown by a fathah ـَ — a small slanted stroke above the last letter — doubled to tanwīn ـً when the word is indefinite. بَعُوضَةًۭ ends in that doubled fathah ـً, matching the ending of مَثَلًۭا 'an example' it renames. L2 · R11
Apposition (Badal) · بدلAn apposition is a second naming word that renames the one before it to make it clearer, matching it in case. بَعُوضَةًۭ 'a mosquito' renames مَثَلًۭا 'an example' — an example, namely a mosquito — and both wear the same doubled fathah ـً ending. L7 · R4
فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ
(…or what is smaller than it.)
Root فوق — over, above · 43 times in the Quran
فَمَاword 10
Conjunction · حرف عطفA conjunction is a small joining word that ties one item to another. The prefix فَ joins 'what is beyond it' to 'a mosquito': the example may be either. L4 · R4
Relative Pronoun · اسم موصولA relative pronoun is a word that hooks a describing idea onto something. مَا is the form used for non-human things — 'that which/whatever': whatever lies beyond the mosquito. L5 · R13
فَوْقَهَا ۚword 11
Accusative · منصوبThe accusative is the ending shown by a fathah ـَ — a small slanted stroke above the last letter. فَوْقَ ends in exactly that fathah ـَ, the fixed dress of words that tell where something is. L2 · R11
Place Adverb · ظرف مكانA place adverb is a naming word frozen in the accusative — the fathah ـَ ending, the small stroke above its last letter — that tells where: فَوْقَ means 'above/beyond'. It chains to the word after it, here the pronoun هَا: 'beyond it'. L26 · R2
Attached Pronoun · ضمير متصلAn attached pronoun is a mini-word for 'its/her' glued onto the end of another word. The ending هَا on فَوْقَهَا stands for 'it' — the mosquito: 'beyond it'. L3 · R7
Possessive (Idafa) · مضاف إليهA possessive (iḍāfah) chains an owner onto the thing owned, and the owner carries the genitive — the owner's ending, usually shown by a kasrah ـِ, a small slanted stroke below the last letter. The ending هَا 'it' is that owner glued onto فَوْقَ: the 'beyond' belongs to the mosquito. A pronoun like هَا keeps its fixed written shape, so no kasrah appears on it — the genitive is the role its owner slot carries. L5 · R5
Fama fawqaha means something bigger than the mosquito, which is one of the most insignificant and tiniest of creatures — no matter is too small to be used as an example.
Ibn Kathir (abridged), on 2:26
So far: “Indeed, Allāh is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it.”
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟
(And those who have believed)
Root امن — to believe, faith, security, trust · 879 times in the Quran
فَأَمَّاword 12
Resumptive Particle · حرف استئنافA resumptive particle is a وَ or فَ that begins a fresh statement after a pause or shift. The prefix فَ here turns from the example itself to how people receive it. L14 · R1
Detail Particle (أَمَّا) · حرف تفصيلThe detail particle is أَمَّا 'as for…', which singles out a topic and then details it; its answer clause must begin with فَ. Here أَمَّا singles out 'those who have believed', and the answer فَيَعْلَمُونَ 'they know' begins with exactly that فَ. L20 · R20
ٱلَّذِينَword 13
Conditional Particle · أداة شرطA conditional particle sets up a two-part frame: a condition-like clause and its result, often joined by the result فَ. Here ٱلَّذِينَ 'those who', marked out by أَمَّا 'as for', works as that first half — whoever is of this group — and the clause beginning with فَ, 'they know', is its result. L16 · R1
ءَامَنُوا۟word 14
Verb · فعلA verb is a word for an action tied to a time. ءَامَنُوا۟ names an action — believing — from the root امن, to believe, faith, trust. L1 · R7
Past Tense Verb · فعل ماضٍA past tense verb describes a completed action, and who did it is shown by an ending glued to the verb's tail. On ءَامَنُوا۟ that ending is وا۟, the 'they' marker: 'they believed'. L8 · R2
Hamzated Verb · فعل مهموزA hamzated verb has the hamza ء as one of its root letters. The root of ءَامَنُوا۟ is امن, whose first letter is that hamza; here it fuses into the long-vowel opening ءَا, which can disguise the root. L24 · R11
Form IV Verb · أَفْعَلَA Form IV verb adds a hamza to the front of the root. In ءَامَنُوا۟ that added hamza has fused with the root's own first-letter hamza into the single long opening ءَا, so no separate prefix letter shows — the fused opening itself is the Form IV mark here. L12 · R5
Attached Pronoun · ضمير متصلAn attached pronoun is a mini-word glued onto the end of a verb. The ending وا۟ on ءَامَنُوا۟ is such a suffix, standing for 'they' — those who believe. L3 · R6
Doer (Fa'il) · فاعلThe doer is the one performing the action, so it stands in the nominative — the doer's form, usually shown by a ḍammah ـُ, a small curl above the last letter. The ending وا۟ on ءَامَنُوا۟ is that doer, 'they'; on this attached pronoun the shape is fixed, so no ḍammah appears, but the role it fills is the nominative one. L9 · R4
فَيَعْلَمُونَ
(…know)
Root علم — to know, knowledge · 854 times in the Quran
فَيَعْلَمُونَword 15
Result Particle · فاء الجوابThe result particle is a فَ introducing the 'then' half that follows from a condition or an 'as for…' opening. The prefix فَ here begins the answer to 'as for those who have believed': 'they know'. L14 · R2
Verb · فعلA verb is a word for an action tied to a time. يَعْلَمُ names an action — knowing — from the root علم, to know, knowledge. L1 · R7
Present Tense Verb · فعل مضارعA present tense verb describes an ongoing action and opens with one of the four prefixes أ ن ي ت. يَعْلَمُونَ opens with يَ, the 'they' marker together with its plural ending: 'they know'. L8 · R3
The Five Verbs · الأفعال الخمسةThe Five Verbs are the five present shapes ending in نَ, one being يَفْعَلُونَ 'they do'; for these shapes that final نَ itself is the mood sign — kept in the plain mood, dropped after words like لَمْ or لَنْ. يَعْلَمُونَ keeps its نَ, showing the plain, unaltered mood. L10 · R10
Attached Pronoun · ضمير متصلAn attached pronoun is a mini-word glued onto the end of a verb. In the ending ونَ of يَعْلَمُونَ, the و is that mini-word, standing for 'they' — the believers. L3 · R6
Doer (Fa'il) · فاعلThe doer is the one performing the action, so it stands in the nominative — the doer's form, usually shown by a ḍammah ـُ, a small curl above the last letter. The و in the ending ونَ of يَعْلَمُونَ is that doer, 'they'; on this attached pronoun the shape is fixed, so no ḍammah appears, but the role it fills is the nominative one. L9 · R4
أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ
(…that it is the truth)
Root حقق — to be true, truth, reality · 287 times in the Quran
أَنَّهُword 16
Accusative Particle (إنّ) · حرف مشبه بالفعلأَنَّ 'that' — carrying the doubling shaddah ـّ, a small w-shaped mark — belongs to the family حرف مشبه بالفعل; it introduces the content of knowing or saying, and it pushes the topic after it into the accusative, the fathah ـَ form, while the comment stays as it was. Here it follows 'they know': they know THAT it is the truth. L15 · R4
Attached Pronoun · ضمير متصلAn attached pronoun is a mini-word glued onto the end of another word; glued to a particle, it is governed by that particle. The ending هُ on أَنَّهُ stands for 'it' — the example — and serves as the topic أَنَّ pushes into the accusative, the fathah ـَ form; a pronoun keeps its fixed written shape, so the role, not a visible fathah, carries that case. L3 · R6
ٱلْحَقُّword 17
Definite Article · أل التعريفThe definite article is the prefix ٱلْ ('the') fixed to the front of a naming word to mark one specific, known thing. Here it marks حَقُّ as 'the truth'. L2 · R9
Noun · اسمA word that accepts the prefix ٱلْ ('the') is a noun — a naming word. This word carries that prefix and names an idea: 'the truth', from the root حقق, to be true, truth, reality. L1 · R1
Masculine Noun · اسم مذكرArabic treats every naming word as grammatically 'he' or 'she'. This word carries no feminine marker such as a ة at its end, so it falls to the default and is treated as 'he': a masculine noun. L2 · R3
Nominative · مرفوعThe nominative is the ending shown by a ḍammah ـُ — a small curl above the last letter. ٱلْحَقُّ ends in that ḍammah ـُ: it is the comment telling what 'it' is, and the comment after أَنَّ keeps its nominative in its own right. L2 · R10
مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ
(…from their Lord.)
Root ربب — Lord, Sustainer, Nourisher, Regulator, Perfector · 980 times in the Quran
مِنword 18
Particle · حرفA particle is a small helper word with no meaning standing alone; it takes no ending and does not name or act. مِن is such a helper word here. L1 · R8
Preposition · حرف جرA preposition is a little word that relates one thing to another and pulls the naming word right after it into the genitive — the after-preposition ending, usually a kasrah ـِ, a small stroke below the last letter. مِن means 'from': 'from their Lord'. L4 · R1
رَّبِّهِمْ ۖword 19
Noun · اسمA noun is a naming word for a person, thing, or idea. رَّبِّ names the Lord — from the root ربب: Lord, Sustainer, Nourisher. L1 · R6
Masculine Noun · اسم مذكرArabic treats every naming word as grammatically 'he' or 'she'. This word carries no feminine marker such as a ة at its end, so it falls to the default and is treated as 'he': a masculine noun. L2 · R3
Genitive · مجرورThe genitive is the ending a naming word takes after a preposition, usually shown by a kasrah ـِ — a small slanted stroke below the last letter. رَّبِّ carries that kasrah ـِ because مِن 'from' stands before it. L2 · R12
Attached Pronoun · ضمير متصلAn attached pronoun is a mini-word for 'their' glued onto the end of another word. The ending هِمْ on رَّبِّهِمْ stands for 'their': 'their Lord'. L3 · R7
Possessive (Idafa) · مضاف إليهA possessive (iḍāfah) chains an owner onto the thing owned, and the owner carries the genitive — the owner's ending, usually shown by a kasrah ـِ, a small slanted stroke below the last letter. The ending هِمْ 'their' is that owner glued onto رَّبِّ: the Lord of these believers. A pronoun like هِمْ keeps its fixed written shape, so no kasrah appears on it — the genitive is the role its owner slot carries. L5 · R5
Mujahid said: the believers believe in these parables, whether they involve large matters or small, because they know they are the truth from their Lord.
Ibn Kathir (abridged), on 2:26
So far: “Indeed, Allāh is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord.”
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟
(But as for those who disbelieve,)
Root كفر — to disbelieve, reject faith; disbelief, ingratitude · 525 times in the Quran
وَأَمَّاword 20
Conjunction · حرف عطفA conjunction is a small joining word that ties one clause to another. The prefix وَ joins this 'as for…' about the disbelievers to the one before it about the believers. L4 · R4
Detail Particle (أَمَّا) · حرف تفصيلThe detail particle is أَمَّا 'as for…', which singles out a topic and then details it; its answer clause must begin with فَ. Here أَمَّا singles out 'those who disbelieve', and the answer فَيَقُولُونَ 'they say' begins with exactly that فَ. L20 · R20
ٱلَّذِينَword 21
Conditional Particle · أداة شرطA conditional particle sets up a two-part frame: a condition-like clause and its result, often joined by the result فَ. Here ٱلَّذِينَ 'those who', marked out by أَمَّا 'as for', works as that first half — whoever is of this group — and the clause beginning with فَ, 'they say', is its result. L16 · R1
كَفَرُوا۟word 22
Verb · فعلA verb is a word for an action tied to a time. كَفَرُوا۟ names an action — disbelieving — from the root كفر, to disbelieve, reject faith. L1 · R7
Past Tense Verb · فعل ماضٍA past tense verb describes a completed action, and who did it is shown by an ending glued to the verb's tail. On كَفَرُوا۟ that ending is وا۟, the 'they' marker: 'they disbelieved'. L8 · R2
Attached Pronoun · ضمير متصلAn attached pronoun is a mini-word glued onto the end of a verb. The ending وا۟ on كَفَرُوا۟ is such a suffix, standing for 'they' — those who disbelieve. L3 · R6
Doer (Fa'il) · فاعلThe doer is the one performing the action, so it stands in the nominative — the doer's form, usually shown by a ḍammah ـُ, a small curl above the last letter. The ending وا۟ on كَفَرُوا۟ is that doer, 'they'; on this attached pronoun the shape is fixed, so no ḍammah appears, but the role it fills is the nominative one. L9 · R4
فَيَقُولُونَ
(…they say,)
Root قول — to say, speak, tell · 1,722 times in the Quran
فَيَقُولُونَword 23
Result Particle · فاء الجوابThe result particle is a فَ introducing the 'then' half that follows from a condition or an 'as for…' opening. The prefix فَ here begins the answer to 'as for those who disbelieve': 'they say'. L14 · R2
Verb · فعلA verb is a word for an action tied to a time. يَقُولُ names an action — saying — from the root قول, to say, speak, tell. L1 · R7
Present Tense Verb · فعل مضارعA present tense verb describes an ongoing action and opens with one of the four prefixes أ ن ي ت. يَقُولُونَ opens with يَ, the 'they' marker together with its plural ending: 'they say'. L8 · R3
The Five Verbs · الأفعال الخمسةThe Five Verbs are the five present shapes ending in نَ, one being يَفْعَلُونَ 'they do'; for these shapes that final نَ itself is the mood sign — kept in the plain mood, dropped after words like لَمْ or لَنْ. يَقُولُونَ keeps its نَ, showing the plain, unaltered mood. L10 · R10
Weak Verb · فعل معتلA weak verb is one whose root contains the weak letter و or ي. The root of يَقُولُونَ is قول, with the weak و in the middle; here that و surfaces as the long 'ū' sound of قُولُ. L24 · R2
Attached Pronoun · ضمير متصلAn attached pronoun is a mini-word glued onto the end of a verb. In the ending ونَ of يَقُولُونَ, the و is that mini-word, standing for 'they' — the disbelievers. L3 · R6
Doer (Fa'il) · فاعلThe doer is the one performing the action, so it stands in the nominative — the doer's form, usually shown by a ḍammah ـُ, a small curl above the last letter. The و in the ending ونَ of يَقُولُونَ is that doer, 'they'; on this attached pronoun the shape is fixed, so no ḍammah appears, but the role it fills is the nominative one. L9 · R4
مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ
(…"What did Allāh intend)
Root رود — to seek, to go gently, slowly · 148 times in the Quran
Root اله — god · 2,851 times in the Quran
مَاذَآword 24
Interrogative Particle · حرف استفهامAn interrogative particle turns a statement into a question. مَاذَآ is the question word 'what?': 'What did Allāh intend by this?'. L17 · R3
أَرَادَword 25
Verb · فعلA verb is a word for an action tied to a time. أَرَادَ names an action — intending — from the root رود, to seek, to go gently. L1 · R7
Past Tense Verb · فعل ماضٍA past tense verb in its base shape is the bare 'he' form with no added ending, naming a completed action. أَرَادَ is exactly that bare form — 'he intended' — and the أَ at its front belongs to the verb's Form IV pattern, not to any present-tense prefix. L8 · R1
Weak Verb · فعل معتلA weak verb is one whose root contains the weak letter و or ي. The root of أَرَادَ is رود: its middle و hides here behind the long ا of رَادَ. L24 · R2
Form IV Verb · أَفْعَلَA Form IV verb is identified by a hamza added to the front of the root letters in the past tense. أَرَادَ opens with exactly that added hamza أَ before its root رود, marking it as Form IV. L12 · R5
ٱللَّهُword 26
Noun · اسمA noun is a naming word — it covers proper names as well as things and ideas. ٱللَّهُ is the proper name of Allah, from the root اله, god. L1 · R6
Nominative · مرفوعThe nominative is the ending a naming word takes as the subject of its sentence, shown by a ḍammah ـُ — a small curl above the last letter. ٱللَّهُ ends in that ḍammah ـُ. L2 · R10
Doer (Fa'il) · فاعلThe doer is the one performing the action of a verb, and it always takes the nominative — shown here by the ḍammah ـُ, the small curl above the last letter of ٱللَّهُ. He is the doer of أَرَادَ in their question: 'what did Allāh intend?'. L9 · R2
بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًۭا ۘ
(…by this as an example?")
Root مثل — to resemble, be like; example, likeness, similitude · 169 times in the Quran
بِهَـٰذَاword 27
Preposition · حرف جرA preposition is a little word that relates one thing to another and pulls the naming word after it into the genitive — the after-preposition standing, usually a kasrah ـِ, a small stroke below the last letter. The prefix بِ means 'by': 'by this'. L4 · R1
Demonstrative Pronoun · اسم إشارةA demonstrative pronoun is a pointing word that singles out a specific thing. هَٰذَا points to something near, masculine, and singular — 'this', the example just given. A pointing word keeps one fixed written shape, so no ending changes on it after the preposition بِ. L3 · R8
مَثَلًۭا ۘword 28
Noun · اسمA word that accepts tanwīn — the doubled end-vowel marks ـٌ ـً ـٍ — is a noun, a naming word. مَثَلًۭا ends in the doubled fathah ـً and names a thing: an example, from the root مثل, to resemble; example, likeness. L1 · R2
Masculine Noun · اسم مذكرArabic treats every naming word as grammatically 'he' or 'she'. This word carries no feminine marker such as a ة at its end, so it falls to the default and is treated as 'he': a masculine noun. L2 · R3
Indefinite Noun · نكرةAn indefinite noun means 'a' or 'any' — no particular one — and shows this with tanwīn, the doubled end-vowel mark. مَثَلًۭا ends in the doubled fathah ـً. L2 · R8
Accusative · منصوبThe accusative is the ending shown by a fathah ـَ — a small slanted stroke above the last letter — doubled to tanwīn ـً when the word is indefinite. مَثَلًۭا ends in that doubled fathah ـً. L2 · R11
Specification (Tamyīz) · التمييزThe tamyīz is an indefinite naming word in the accusative — the fathah ـَ form, here the doubled fathah ـً — added to pin down in what respect something is meant. مَثَلًۭا pins down 'this': what did Allāh intend by this — as an example? L21 · R12
When Allah mentioned things like the flies and the spider in His Book, the people of misguidance said, 'Why did Allah mention these things?' — so Allah revealed this ayah.
Ibn Kathir (abridged), on 2:26
So far: “Indeed, Allāh is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allāh intend by this as an example?"”
يُضِلُّ بِهِۦ كَثِيرًۭا
(He misleads many thereby)
Root ضلل — to err, go astray, be lost · 191 times in the Quran
Root كثر — to surpass in number or quantity, be much, many, numerous, increase, multiply · 167 times in the Quran
يُضِلُّword 29
Verb · فعلA verb is a word for an action tied to a time. يُضِلُّ names an action — leading astray — from the root ضلل, to err, go astray, be lost. L1 · R7
Present Tense Verb · فعل مضارعA present tense verb describes an ongoing action and opens with one of the four prefixes أ ن ي ت. يُضِلُّ opens with يُ, the 'He' marker: 'He lets go astray'. L8 · R3
Doubled Verb · فعل مضاعفA doubled verb is one whose second and third root letters are the same letter, written once with the shaddah ـّ — the small w-shaped doubling mark. The root of يُضِلُّ is ضلل, its two ل's folded into the single ل carrying that shaddah ـّ. L24 · R10
Form IV Verb · أَفْعَلَIn the present tense a Form IV verb is identified by a ḍammah ـُ — a small curl — on its prefix letter. يُضِلُّ carries exactly that ḍammah on its prefix يُ, marking the causing pattern: He CAUSES straying — 'He lets go astray'. L12 · R7
بِهِۦword 30
Preposition · حرف جرA preposition is a little word that relates one thing to another and pulls the naming word after it into the genitive — the after-preposition standing, usually a kasrah ـِ, a small stroke below the last letter. The prefix بِ means 'by': 'by it'. L4 · R1
Detached Pronoun · ضمير منفصلA pronoun is a mini-word standing in for a name, here هِۦ 'it'. Joined after the preposition بِ, it points back to the example: 'thereby'. L3 · R7
كَثِيرًۭاword 31
Noun · اسمA word that accepts tanwīn — the doubled end-vowel marks ـٌ ـً ـٍ — is a noun, a naming word. كَثِيرًۭا ends in the doubled fathah ـً and names a body of people: 'many', from the root كثر, to be much, many, numerous. L1 · R2
Masculine Noun · اسم مذكرArabic treats every naming word as grammatically 'he' or 'she'. This word carries no feminine marker such as a ة at its end, so it falls to the default and is treated as 'he': a masculine noun. L2 · R3
Singular Noun · مفردA singular noun is a naming word in its one-entity form, showing its ending with a single short vowel mark — doubled to tanwīn when indefinite. كَثِيرًۭا is singular in form — one word gathering a whole multitude as 'many' — and wears the single doubled fathah ـً. L2 · R4
Indefinite Noun · نكرةAn indefinite noun means 'a' or 'some' — no particular ones — and shows this with tanwīn, the doubled end-vowel mark. كَثِيرًۭا ends in the doubled fathah ـً: 'many', unspecified. L2 · R8
Accusative · منصوبThe accusative is the ending a naming word takes when the action lands on it, shown by a fathah ـَ — a small slanted stroke above the last letter — doubled to tanwīn ـً when the word is indefinite. كَثِيرًۭا ends in that doubled fathah ـً. L2 · R11
Direct Object · مفعول بهThe direct object is the one the action lands on, in the accusative — here the doubled fathah ـً above the last letter. The misleading of يُضِلُّ lands on كَثِيرًۭا: 'many'. L9 · R3
By it He misleads many — meaning the hypocrites, whose straying increases when they reject the parables Allah mentioned, which they know are true.
Ibn Kathir (abridged), on 2:26
وَيَهْدِى بِهِۦ كَثِيرًۭا ۚ
(…and guides many thereby.)
Root هدي — to guide, show the right path · 316 times in the Quran
Root كثر — to surpass in number or quantity, be much, many, numerous, increase, multiply · 167 times in the Quran
وَيَهْدِىword 32
Conjunction · حرف عطفA conjunction is a small joining word that ties one action to another. The prefix وَ joins 'He guides' to 'He misleads': the same example works both ways. L4 · R4
Verb · فعلA verb is a word for an action tied to a time. يَهْدِى names an action — guiding — from the root هدي, to guide, show the right path. L1 · R7
Present Tense Verb · فعل مضارعA present tense verb describes an ongoing action and opens with one of the four prefixes أ ن ي ت. يَهْدِى opens with يَ, the 'He' marker: 'He guides'. L8 · R3
Weak Verb · فعل معتلA weak verb is one whose root contains the weak letter و or ي — letters that love to soften into long vowels or vanish. The root of يَهْدِى is هدي, whose last letter is the weak ي; it surfaces here as the soft final ى sound. L24 · R2
بِهِۦword 33
Preposition · حرف جرA preposition is a little word that relates one thing to another and pulls the naming word after it into the genitive — the after-preposition standing, usually a kasrah ـِ, a small stroke below the last letter. The prefix بِ means 'by': 'by it'. L4 · R1
Detached Pronoun · ضمير منفصلA pronoun is a mini-word standing in for a name, here هِۦ 'it'. Joined after the preposition بِ, it points back to the example: 'thereby'. L3 · R7
كَثِيرًۭا ۚword 34
Noun · اسمA word that accepts tanwīn — the doubled end-vowel marks ـٌ ـً ـٍ — is a noun, a naming word. كَثِيرًۭا ends in the doubled fathah ـً and names a body of people: 'many', from the root كثر, to be much, many, numerous. L1 · R2
Masculine Noun · اسم مذكرArabic treats every naming word as grammatically 'he' or 'she'. This word carries no feminine marker such as a ة at its end, so it falls to the default and is treated as 'he': a masculine noun. L2 · R3
Singular Noun · مفردA singular noun is a naming word in its one-entity form, showing its ending with a single short vowel mark — doubled to tanwīn when indefinite. كَثِيرًۭا is singular in form — one word gathering a whole multitude as 'many' — and wears the single doubled fathah ـً. L2 · R4
Indefinite Noun · نكرةAn indefinite noun means 'a' or 'some' — no particular ones — and shows this with tanwīn, the doubled end-vowel mark. كَثِيرًۭا ends in the doubled fathah ـً: 'many', unspecified. L2 · R8
Accusative · منصوبThe accusative is the ending a naming word takes when the action lands on it, shown by a fathah ـَ — a small slanted stroke above the last letter — doubled to tanwīn ـً when the word is indefinite. كَثِيرًۭا ends in that doubled fathah ـً. L2 · R11
Direct Object · مفعول بهThe direct object is the one the action lands on, in the accusative — here the doubled fathah ـً above the last letter. The guiding of يَهْدِى lands on كَثِيرًۭا: 'many'. L9 · R3
And He guides thereby many from among the people of faith and conviction — Allah adds guidance to their guidance, and faith to their faith.
Ibn Kathir (abridged), on 2:26
So far: “Indeed, Allāh is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allāh intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby.”
وَمَا يُضِلُّ
(And He misleads not)
Root ضلل — to err, go astray, be lost · 191 times in the Quran
وَمَاword 35
Resumptive Particle · حرف استئنافA resumptive particle is a وَ or فَ that begins a fresh statement after a pause or shift. The prefix وَ here opens the closing statement: 'And He misleads not…'. L14 · R1
Particle · حرفA particle is a small helper word with no meaning standing alone; it takes no ending and does not name or act. مَا is such a helper word here. L1 · R8
Negation Particle · حرف نفيA negation particle is a word meaning 'not', flipping a statement to its opposite. مَا negates the statement after it — 'He does NOT mislead' — preparing the 'except' that narrows it. L4 · R5
يُضِلُّword 36
Verb · فعلA verb is a word for an action tied to a time. يُضِلُّ names an action — leading astray — from the root ضلل, to err, go astray, be lost. L1 · R7
Present Tense Verb · فعل مضارعA present tense verb describes an ongoing action and opens with one of the four prefixes أ ن ي ت. يُضِلُّ opens with يُ, the 'He' marker: 'He lets go astray'. L8 · R3
Doubled Verb · فعل مضاعفA doubled verb is one whose second and third root letters are the same letter, written once with the shaddah ـّ — the small w-shaped doubling mark. The root of يُضِلُّ is ضلل, its two ل's folded into the single ل carrying that shaddah ـّ. L24 · R10
Form IV Verb · أَفْعَلَIn the present tense a Form IV verb is identified by a ḍammah ـُ — a small curl — on its prefix letter. يُضِلُّ carries exactly that ḍammah on its prefix يُ, marking the causing pattern: He CAUSES straying — 'He lets go astray'. L12 · R7
بِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
(…except the defiantly disobedient,)
Root فسق — to disobey defiantly, transgress, rebellious disobedience · 54 times in the Quran
بِهِۦٓword 37
Preposition · حرف جرA preposition is a little word that relates one thing to another and pulls the naming word after it into the genitive — the after-preposition standing, usually a kasrah ـِ, a small stroke below the last letter. The prefix بِ means 'by': 'by it'. L4 · R1
Detached Pronoun · ضمير منفصلA pronoun is a mini-word standing in for a name, here هِۦٓ 'it'. Joined after the preposition بِ, it points back to the example: 'thereby'. L3 · R7
إِلَّاword 38
Restriction Particle · أداة الحصرA restriction particle narrows a whole statement down to exactly one thing, meaning 'only'. The pattern here is a 'not' (مَا) plus the verb plus إِلَّا 'except': 'He does not mislead thereby EXCEPT the defiantly disobedient' — that is, only them. L19 · R5
ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَword 39
Definite Article · أل التعريفThe definite article is the prefix ٱلْ ('the') fixed to the front of a naming word to mark a specific, known group. Here it marks فَٰسِقِينَ as 'the defiantly disobedient'. L2 · R9
Noun · اسمA word that accepts the prefix ٱلْ ('the') is a noun — a naming word. This word carries that prefix and names a group: 'the defiantly disobedient', from the root فسق, to disobey defiantly, transgress. L1 · R1
Masculine Noun · اسم مذكرArabic treats every naming word as grammatically 'he' or 'she'. This word carries no feminine marker such as a ة at its end, so it falls to the default and is treated as 'he': a masculine noun. L2 · R3
Plural Noun · جمعA plural noun refers to three or more. The sound masculine plural carries its role in its ending — ـُونَ for the nominative (the 'subject form', with the ḍammah ـُ sound), ـِينَ for the accusative and genitive (the 'object' and 'of' forms); ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ ends in exactly that ـِينَ: the many defiantly disobedient. L2 · R6
Accusative · منصوبThe accusative is usually shown by a fathah ـَ, a small slanted stroke above the last letter — but the dual and the sound masculine plural share one ending, ـِينَ, for both the accusative and the genitive. ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ wears that ـِينَ ending as the one the misleading lands on. L2 · R7
Direct Object · مفعول بهThe direct object is the one the action lands on, in the accusative — shown for this plural by its ending ـِينَ rather than a fathah ـَ. The misleading of يُضِلُّ lands on ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ, and only on them. L9 · R3
Active Participle · اسم فاعلAn active participle is a naming word built from a verb's root on the pattern فَاعِل to name the doer of the action. فَٰسِق is built on that pattern from the root فسق (to disobey defiantly): ones who defiantly disobey. L11 · R1
He misleads thereby only the Fasiqin — the rebellious, disobedient to Allah; the Arabs say a date has 'fasaqat' when it comes out of its skin, and the Fisq of the disbeliever is the worse kind described here.
Ibn Kathir (abridged), on 2:26
So far: “Indeed, Allāh is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allāh intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient,”