وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَى مَوْلَاهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّهْهُ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي هُوَ وَمَنْ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَهُوَ عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

Popular Translations

Muhammad Asad

And God propounds [to you] the parable of two [other] men -one of them dumb, unable to do anything of his own accord, and a sheer burden on his master: to whichever task the latter directs him, he accomplishes no good. Can such a one be considered the equal of [a wise man] who enjoins the doing of what is right and himself follows a straight way

Arthur John Arberry

God has struck a similitude: two men, one of them dumb, having no power over anything, and he is a burden upon his master -- wherever he despatches him, he brings no good. Is he equal to him who bids to justice, and is on a straight path

Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)

Allah sets forth (another) Parable of two men: one of them dumb, with no power of any sort; a wearisome burden is he to his master; whichever way be directs him, he brings no good: is such a man equal with one who commands Justice, and is on a Straight Way

Arabic

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلࣰا رَّجُلَیۡنِ أَحَدُهُمَاۤ أَبۡكَمُ لَا یَقۡدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَیۡءࣲ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوۡلَىٰهُ أَیۡنَمَا یُوَجِّههُّ لَا یَأۡتِ بِخَیۡرٍ هَلۡ یَسۡتَوِی هُوَ وَمَن یَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَ ٰطࣲ مُّسۡتَقِیمࣲ ۝٧٦

Transliteration (2021)

waḍaraba l-lahu mathalan rajulayni aḥaduhumā abkamu lā yaqdiru ʿalā shayin wahuwa kallun ʿalā mawlāhu aynamā yuwajjihhu lā yati bikhayrin hal yastawī huwa waman yamuru bil-ʿadli wahuwa ʿalā ṣirāṭin mus'taqīmi