Talking of parables, we recently published a verse from Qur'an based on a parable by giving an example of a fly. You may read our post: A parable in the Qur’an which teaches absurdity of idolatry and worshiping beings other than Allah if so desired.
As for the metaphor, Verse 39 of Surah An-Nur (Surah 24, Ayah 39) is a is powerful metaphor about the false hopes and delusions of disbelievers. Here's the verse in Arabic and its English translation, followed by an explanation:
وَالَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡۤا اَعۡمَالُهُمۡ كَسَرَابٍۢ بِقِيۡعَةٍ يَّحۡسَبُهُ الظَّمۡاٰنُ مَآءً ؕ حَتّٰۤى اِذَا جَآءَهٗ لَمۡ يَجِدۡهُ شَيۡـئًـا وَّ وَجَدَ اللّٰهَ عِنۡدَهٗ فَوَفّٰٮهُ حِسَابَهٗ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ سَرِيۡعُ الۡحِسَابِ ۙ
(24:39) But for those who deny the Truth, their deeds are like a mirage in the desert, which the thirsty supposes to be water until he comes to it only to find that it was nothing; he found instead that Allah was with Him and He paid his account in full. Allah is swift in settling the account.
Explanation:
That is, they refused to accept sincerely the divine message which was brought by the Prophets, and which at that time was being given by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The veerse clearly show that the truthful and righteous believers only can benefit from Allah’s Light. In contrast to them, the state of those people is being described here, who refused to believe and obey the Prophet (peace be upon him), who was the real and sole means of attaining the Light of Allah.
This verse uses the metaphor of a mirage in a desert to describe the false hope and self-deception of disbelievers regarding their good deeds.
- "Their deeds are like a mirage in the desert..."
- The mirage appears on a vast, flat, dry plain (“qīʿah”) and looks like water from a distance. The thirsty traveler runs toward it only to find nothing upon reaching it.
- This refers to seemingly good actions done by disbelievers (e.g. charity, kindness) that are not grounded in faith in Allah.
- Just as a mirage looks like water to a thirsty traveler, these deeds appear valuable and meaningful to the disbelievers.
- "...which a thirsty one thinks is water..."
- A person dying of thirst in the desert may desperately hope that a shimmer on the horizon is water.
- Similarly, disbelievers hope that their good deeds will save them, but their perception is deceptive.
- "...until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing...": Upon death or on the Day of Judgment, they realize that their deeds carry no spiritual weight, because they were not done with faith or sincerity toward God.
- "...and finds Allah before him, who will settle the account..."
- Instead of finding a reward, the disbeliever finds Allah and His judgment.
- Allah gives them the exact recompense for their actions — and since their actions were not for His sake, they get no lasting reward.
- "And Allah is swift in taking account." Allah's judgment is not delayed or unjust — it is immediate, precise, and fair.
Takeaway:
This verse thus describes the condition of those people who, in spite of disbelief and hypocrisy, practice some good deeds and also believe, among other things, in the life after death in the hope that their good deeds will be of some help to them in the Hereafter even if they did not believe and follow the Prophet and lacked the qualities of true believers. In this parable they are being told that their expectations of reaping benefits of their ostentatious deeds of virtue in the Hereafter are no more than a mirage. Just as a traveler in the desert takes the glittering sands for a surging pool of water and runs towards it for quenching his thirst, so are these people traveling on the road to death cherishing false hopes on account of their good deeds. But just as the one running towards a mirage does not find anything there to quench his thirst, so will these people find nothing to avail them when they enter the state of death. On the contrary, they will find Allah there, Who will require them to account for their disbelief, hypocrisy and misdeeds, which they committed along with their ostentatious deeds of virtue, and will deal with them in full justice.
It sends out a clear warning that good deeds without belief in God and sincerity may amount to nothing in the Hereafter. It stresses the importance of correct intention (niyyah) and faith (iman) along with action. So let us who believe steer our lives in accordance with dictates of Qur'an, first by reading it, then understanding what has been read, followed by its sincere practical manifestation.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Al-Qurʾān: Selected verses from Surah .24 An Nur (The Light) for more selected verses from this Surah.
Fore more selected verses from Al-Qurʾān Please refer to our Selected verses from Sūrahs of Qur'an to highlight important topics with detailed explanation and Reference Page on Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.
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