Surah Al-Baqara 2:26 — Meaning, Translation & Reflection

۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًۭا مَّا بَعُوضَةًۭ فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًۭا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِۦ كَثِيرًۭا وَيَهْدِى بِهِۦ كَثِيرًۭا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ

English: God does not shy from drawing comparisons even with something as small as a gnat, or larger: the believers know it is the truth from their Lord, but the disbelievers say, ‘What does God mean by such a comparison?’ Through it He makes many go astray and leads many to the right path. But it is only the rebels He makes go astray:

Bengali: আল্লাহ পাক নিঃসন্দেহে মশা বা তদুর্ধ্ব বস্তু দ্বারা উপমা পেশ করতে লজ্জাবোধ করেন না। বস্তুতঃ যারা মুমিন তারা নিশ্চিতভাবে বিশ্বাস করে যে, তাদের পালনকর্তা কর্তৃক উপস্থাপিত এ উপমা সম্পূর্ণ নির্ভূল ও সঠিক। আর যারা কাফের তারা বলে, এরূপ উপমা উপস্থাপনে আল্লাহর মতলবই বা কি ছিল। এ দ্বারা আল্লাহ তা’আলা অনেককে বিপথগামী করেন, আবার অনেককে সঠিক পথও প্রদর্শন করেন। তিনি অনুরূপ উপমা দ্বারা অসৎ ব্যক্তিবর্গ ভিন্ন কাকেও বিপথগামী করেন না।

Meaning & Reflection

'God is not shy to strike a parable of a mosquito, or something above it. Those who believe know it is the truth from their Lord; but those who disbelieve say: What did God intend by this? He misguides many by it and guides many by it — and He misguides none but the defiantly disobedient.' Ibn Ashur and al-Saadi note the profound point — the *same* verse guides the humble and repels the arrogant: revelation sorts hearts, and what a person brings to it determines what they take from it. Ask yourself: two people meet the identical sign — one sees truth and draws near, the other sneers 'what's the point of this?' and drifts further. The difference is not in the verse but in the heart reading it. It warns that my *posture* toward the Qur'an — receptive or contemptuous — decides whether the very same words guide or mislead me. Do I approach it ready to be led, or ready to object?

Grounded in classical tafsir: Ibn Ashur, al-Saadi, Ibn Kathir.

Reflect with the Five Lenses

Maani's framework for Tadabbur (heart-centred reflection) on Surah Al-Baqara 2:26:

• Wording. Look closely at the specific words and structure. Which word stands out, and why might Allah have chosen it here?
• Quranic Worlds. Place the verse in its context — what is happening around it, and what world does it open up?
• Personal Experience. Ask not just what this means, but what it means TO me and FOR me, right now in my life.
• Connections. How does this verse connect to other verses, to the Sunnah, or to themes across the Quran?
• General Lessons. What timeless lesson or action point can I carry away and live by?