Tafsir of Al-Baqarah 2:171

"And the example of those who disbelieve..."

There must be an omitted genitive (mudaf), the estimation of which is: "And the example of the caller to those who disbelieve..."

"...is like that of one who shouts..."

Or: "And the example of those who disbelieve is like the beasts of one who shouts."

The meaning is: The example of their caller to faith—in that they hear nothing of the call except the ringing of the tone and the resonance of the sound, without applying their minds or gaining insight—is like the one shouting at beasts. These beasts hear nothing but the caller’s cry and his call, which is merely a sound directed at them and a driving of them; they understand nothing else, nor do they comprehend as the rational understand and comprehend.

It is also permissible that what is meant by "one who does not hear" is the deaf person—the one who is completely deaf—who hears nothing of the speaker’s words except the calling and the shouting, without understanding the letters.

It is said: The meaning is that their example in following their forefathers and imitating them is like the beasts that hear only the outward sound and do not understand what lies beneath it. Likewise, these people follow them based on their outward state and do not understand whether they are upon truth or falsehood.

It is also said: The meaning is their example in calling upon idols is like the one shouting at what does not hear. However, the phrase "except a call and a cry" does not support this, because idols do not hear anything.

Al-na'iq (shouting) is the act of making a sound. It is said: "The muezzin shouted" and "The shepherd shouted at the sheep." Al-Akhtal said: So shout at your sheep, O Jarir, for your soul has only promised you delusions in the wilderness.

As for na'aqa al-ghurab (the crow croaked), it is with the ghayn (غ).

"Deaf..." They are deaf. This is in the nominative case (raf') as a form of censure.

"O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is Him that you worship." (172)