Al-Ankabut (The Spider): (41) The likeness of those who take...

After Allah Almighty clarified that He destroyed those who associated partners with Him swiftly (in this world) and will punish those who denied Him later (in the Hereafter), and that what they worshipped did not benefit them in either realm, nor did their bowing and prostration avert harm from them, He presents a likeness: their taking of these false deities as protectors is like the spider taking a house, which offers no shelter to the one seeking refuge nor comfort to the resident.

In this verse, there are subtle points (lata'if) which we will mention in several issues:

Issue 1: What is the wisdom in choosing this specific likeness from among other examples?

We offer several perspectives on this:

First: A house should possess certain qualities: a protective wall, a covering roof, a door that closes, and things from which one benefits and relies upon. If these are absent, at least one of two things must be present: either a protective wall to ward off the cold, or a covering roof to repel the heat. If neither is achieved, it is like an open desert, not a house.

However, the spider's house neither shields nor shelters. Similarly, a true object of worship (Ma'bud) should provide creation, sustenance, bring benefits, and avert harms. If these are not all present, then at least it should avert some harm or bring some benefit. If it does neither, it is equivalent to non-existence concerning the worshipper. Thus, just as the spider gains nothing of the essence of a house from building it, the disbeliever gains nothing of the essence of true guardianship (Wilayah) from taking idols as protectors.

Second: The lowest degree of a house is to provide shade. A house made of stone provides shade and repels wind, water, fire, and dust. A house of wood provides shade and repels heat and cold but not strong wind, water, or fire. A tent made of hair or cloth, even if it repels nothing else, still provides shade against the sun's heat. But the spider's house does not even provide shade, as the sun's rays penetrate it.

Similarly, the highest degree of a deity is to have command over others. If not, it should at least have command over the worshipper. If not even that, then at least the worshipper's command should not be effective over the deity. But their idols are subject to their control: if they wish, they can move them away; if they love, they can humiliate them.

Third: The minimum requirement for a house is that if it is not a cause for stability and reliance, it should not become a cause for scattering and separation. But the spider's house becomes a cause for the spider's distress. If the spider remained in a corner for a period without being bothered or leaving, it would be fine. But once it weaves and makes a house, the owner of the building follows it, cleaning the house with a rough, harmful cloth that irritates the spider's body.

Likewise, the worshipper, because of their worship, should merit reward. If they do not merit reward, then at least they should not merit punishment because of it. But the disbeliever merits punishment because of this worship.

Issue 2: Allah likened their taking of idols as protectors to the spider weaving its house, not just taking a house. This is for two reasons:

One: The weaving (Nask) has a benefit for the spider—without it, it would not obtain what it seeks: catching flies without missing anything greater. While taking idols benefits them with worldly possessions, which are less than a fly, they miss something far greater: the Hereafter, which is better and more enduring. Thus, their taking is not like the spider's weaving.

Two: The weaving itself is beneficial (for catching prey), but their taking of it as a house is a futile act. If they had taken the idols as signs pointing to Allah's existence, His perfect attributes, and proofs of His honored qualities and majestic descriptions, that would have been wisdom. But they took them as protectors, just as the spider makes its weaving into a house—and both actions are futile.

Issue 3: Just as this likeness is valid in the beginning, it is valid at the end.

When the wind blows, nothing of the spider's house remains visible, nor any trace; it becomes scattered dust. Similarly, their deeds done for the idols, as Allah says: {And We shall proceed to what deeds they have done and render them as scattered dust} (Al-Furqan: 23).

Issue 4: Allah said, "The likeness of those who take protectors other than Allah," and did not say "gods (Aalihah)."

This is an indication to invalidate hidden polytheism (Shirk Khafi) as well. For whoever worships Allah for show to others has taken another as a protector, and his likeness is that of the spider taking its weaving as a house.

Then, Allah Almighty said: "And indeed, the frailest of houses is the house of a spider, if they only knew."

This points to what we explained: every house either provides the benefit of shade or something else. But the spider's house is weak in providing that benefit because it is destroyed by the slightest thing, leaving no trace. "So too are their deeds, if they only knew."

{Indeed, Allah knows whatever they invoke besides Him of anything. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.}