Parables of the QuranA parable of the Quran · Ibrahim 14:18

Ashes in the wind

مثل الرماد اشتدت به الريح

The deeds of those who disbelieve vanish like ashes blown away on a stormy day.

Quran

What it means

The deeds of those who disbelieve in their Lord are like ashes on which the wind blows hard on a stormy day: they have no power over anything they earned (14:18).

As-Sa'di gives two readings: either the deeds they did for Allah, which vanish like the finest ash because they stand on disbelief, or the efforts they made to plot against the truth, which come back on them and harm Allah, His messengers and His truth not at all.

Evidence

QuranIbrahim (Abraham)Quran 14:18

مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ ۖ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ كَرَمَادٍ ٱشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِى يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَـٰلُ ٱلْبَعِيدُ ١٨

The example of those who disbelieve in their Lord is [that] their deeds are like ashes which the wind blows forcefully on a stormy day; they are unable [to keep] from what they earned a [single] thing. That is what is extreme error.

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

18. The parable of those who disbelieved in their Lord is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a stormy day; they shall not be able to get aught of what they have earned. That is the straying, far away (from the Right Path).

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