Parables of the QuranA parable of the Quran · Al-Ankaboot 29:41

The spider's house

مثل بيت العنكبوت

Those who take protectors besides Allah are like a spider that builds a house: the frailest of houses.

Quran

What it means

Those who take protectors other than Allah are like the spider, which takes a house for itself; and the frailest of houses is the spider's, if only they knew (29:41).

As-Sa'di explains that they seek strength and help from those protectors and get the opposite: like the spider, whose house only adds to its weakness, they grow weaker by relying on them. One who truly knew would leave them for the Lord who suffices His servant in his religion and his world.

Evidence

QuranAl-Ankaboot (The Spider)Quran 29:41

مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْلِيَآءَ كَمَثَلِ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ٱتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا ۖ وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ ٱلْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ۖ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ ٤١

The example of those who take allies other than Allāh is like that of the spider who takes [i.e., constructs] a home. And indeed, the weakest of homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

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

41. 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.

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