The likeness of those who take allies, besides God, is as the likeness of the spider that takes a house; and the weakest of houses is the house of the spider, did they but know.
| # | word | meaning | root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | mathalu | (The) example | مثل |
| 2 | alladhīna | (of) those who | |
| 3 | ittakhadhū | take | اخذ |
| 4 | min | besides | |
| 5 | dūni | besides | دون |
| 6 | l-lahi | Allah | |
| 7 | awliyāa | protectors | ولي |
| 8 | kamathali | (is) like | مثل |
| 9 | l-ʿankabūti | the spider | عنكب |
| 10 | ittakhadhat | who takes | اخذ |
| 11 | baytan | a house | بيت |
| 12 | wa-inna | And indeed | |
| 13 | awhana | the weakest | وهن |
| 14 | l-buyūti | (of) houses | بيت |
| 15 | labaytu | (is) surely (the) house | بيت |
| 16 | l-ʿankabūti | (of) the spider | عنكب |
| 17 | law | if (only) | |
| 18 | kānū | they | كون |
| 19 | yaʿlamūna | know | علم |
The metaphor of those who take protectors besides Allah is that of a spider which builds itself a house; but no house is flimsier than a spider’s house, if they only knew.
The example of those who take allies besides God is like the spider how it makes a home; and the weakest home is the home of the spider, if they only knew.
The likeness of those who choose patrons other than Allah, is that of the spider which makes for itself a house. And, behold, the frailest of all houses is the spider's house, if they would make use of what they know. (Its web easily traps the weak but cannot withstand the least bit of pressure).
The likeness of those who take allies, besides God, is as the likeness of the spider that takes a house; and the weakest of houses is the house of the spider, did they but know.
The example of those who take allies besides God is like the spider how it makes a home; and the weakest home is the home of the spider, if only they knew.
The example of those who take allies besides God is like the spider, how it makes a home; and the less reliable home is the home of the spider, if they only knew.
The allegory of those who accept other masters beside GOD is that of the spider and her home; the flimsiest of all homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.,
The semblance of those who take protectors besides God is that of the spider. She arranges a house for herself, but the flimsiest of houses is the spider's. If only they had sense!
The example of those who take allies other than Allah is like that of the spider who takes a home. And indeed, the weakest of homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.
The parable of those who take other than God for their protectors is that of the spider which makes for itself a house: for, behold, the frailest of all houses is the spiders house. Could they but understand this!
The likeness of those who choose other patrons than Allah is as the likeness of the spider when she taketh unto herself a house, and lo! the frailest of all houses is the spider's house, if they but knew.
The case of those who took others than Allah as their protectors is that of a spider who builds a house; but the frailest of all houses is the spider's house; if they only knew.*
The like of those who take tutelary guardians or protectors besides Allah stands similitude exact of the spider which seeks protection in a house made of slender filaments or threads spun all round. It may be strong enough to suit its purpose, but it collapses by a wave of the hand, and so the spider's house is indeed the flimsiest of all houses if only they -the infidels- know.
Those who choose beside God as their protector, resemble to the spider who, as everyone knows, build the least strong house to live in. Would that these people had knowledge
The likeness of those who take (false deities as) Auliyâ’ (protectors, helpers) other than Allâh is the likeness of a spider who builds (for itself) a house; but verily, the frailest (weakest) of houses is the spider’s house - if they but knew.
The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the spider, who builds (to itself) a house; but truly the flimsiest of houses is the spider's house;- if they but knew.
The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of a spider spinning a shelter. And the flimsiest of all shelters is certainly that of a spider, if only they knew.
The example of those who have adopted patrons other than Allah is like the spider that has made a house, while indeed the weakest of houses is the house of the spider. If only they know.
Those who take protectors other than God can be compared to spiders building themselves houses- the spider’s is the frailest of all houses- if only they could understand.
The likeness of those who have taken to them protectors, apart from God, is as the likeness of the spider that takes to itself a house; and surely the frailest of houses is the house of the spider, did they but know.
The likeness of those who take, beside God, patrons is as the likeness of a spider, that takes to himself a house; and, verily, the weakest of houses is a spider's house, if they did but know!
And each of them We seized in his sin; and of them were some against whom We sent a sandstorm; and some were caught by a mighty Blast; and some We caused the earth to swallow; and some We drowned. It was not Allah who injured (or oppressed, wronged) them, but it was themselves (or their own souls) they injured (oppressed, wronged).
The likeness of the ones who have taken to themselves patrons apart from Allah is as the likeness of the spider that takes to itself a home; and surely the feeblest of homes is indeed the spider's house, if they knew (the Truth).
The likness of those who take other patrons besides God, is as the likeness of the spider, which maketh herself a house: But the weakest of all houses surely is the house of the spider; if they knew this.
The story of those who take protectors other than Allah is like that of the Spider, who builds a house (web for itself); But truly, the weakest of the houses is the Spiders house— If they only knew.
The case of those who take helping friends apart from Allâh is like the case of the spider that takes (to itself) a house, yet of (all) houses the house of the spider is the frailest. If they but knew (the flimsiness and fragility of their idols they would not have sought their protection).
The parable of those who take guardians instead of Allah is that of the spider that takes a home, and indeed the frailest of homes is the home of a spider, had they known!