Tafsir of An-Nahl 16:76

Another Example Allah tells:

وضرب الله مثﻼ رجلين أحدهما أبكم ﻻ يقدر على شيء وهو كل على موﻻه

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; 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.

أينما يوجهه

whichever way he directs him, meaning, wherever he sends him.

ﻻ يٲت بخير

he brings no good. meaning, he does not succeed in what he wants.

هل يستوي

Is such a man equal, meaning, a man who has these attributes,

هو ومن يٲمر بالعدل

to one who commands justice, meaning fairness, one whose words are true and whose deeds are righteous.

وهو على صراط مستقيم

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