وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَىٰهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And Allah gives an example of two men, one of them dumb, who has no power over anything, and he is a burden on his master; whichever way he directs him, he brings no good. Is such a man equal to one who commands justice, and is himself on the straight path
Another Example
Mujahid said, “This also refers to idols and the True God, may He be exalted.” Meaning that the idol is dumb and cannot speak or say anything, good or otherwise. It cannot do anything at all, no words, no action, it is dependent and is a burden on its master.
أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ
whichever way he directs him,
meaning, wherever he sends him
لاَ يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ
he brings no good.
meaning, he does not succeed in what he wants.
هَلْ يَسْتَوِى
Is such a man equal
meaning, a man who has these attributes
وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ
to one who commands justice
meaning fairness, one whose words are true and whose deeds are righteous.
وَهُوَ عَلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
and is himself on the straight path
Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said: “This is also an example of the disbeliever and the believer”, as in the previous Ayah.