ٱلْعَنْكَبُوت : ٤١

  • مَثَلُ (The) example
  • ٱلَّذِينَ (of) those who
  • ٱتَّخَذُواْ take
  • مِن besides
  • دُونِ besides
  • ٱللَّهِ Allah
  • أَوۡلِيَآءَ protectors
  • كَمَثَلِ (is) like
  • ٱلۡعَنكَبُوتِ the spider
  • ٱتَّخَذَتۡ who takes
  • بَيۡتٗاۖ a house
  • وَإِنَّ And indeed
  • أَوۡهَنَ the weakest
  • ٱلۡبُيُوتِ (of) houses
  • لَبَيۡتُ (is) surely (the) house
  • ٱلۡعَنكَبُوتِۚ (of) the spider
  • لَوۡ if (only)
  • كَانُواْ they
  • يَعۡلَمُونَ know
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.
The likeness of those who choose besides God [other] patrons, namely, idols, from whom they hope to profit, is as the likeness of the spider that makes a home, for itself in which to shelter. And truly the frailest, the weakest, of homes is the home of the spider, for it neither protects it from heat nor cold - likewise, idols cannot benefit those who worship them - if they only knew, this, they would not worship them.