There’s a part in Surah Ankaboot that i don’t think i fully understand.
In several places in the Quran, we are told to reflect on Allah’s Signs - the sky, the rain, the fruits/vegetables, animals of all types, diversity, how the earth works, etc etc. So everything in nature is meant as a manifestation of Allah’s Power, right? i would have assumed that that would include spider webs as well - often, on Islamic programmes on tv, right before the speaker starts talking, during the opening credits, they’ll show a bunch of nature images and usually in the background, there’s the sound of the Azaan. i dunno if anyone else has noticed it, but the Islamic shows they show here on tv (some of them) have this… a spider’s web, to me, would have been a manifestation of Allah’s Sign. It’s intricately made. i don’t understand the parable exactly… why is it flimsy? If everything in nature is a Sign of Allah, then shouldn’t the spider’s web present a positive parable (not the negative one)? Why is it flimsy? Do i make sense?
Without making me feel like a moron, can someone kindly explain it to me. i know it’s a small issue, and what the heck. Even if i don’t understand this one small aspect, it doesn’t take away the entire context of the Surah’s meaning. Simultaneously, if someone would kindly shed some light on it - it would just enhance my overall comprehension of this Surah all the more… Muchas gracias
it’s not only Power, it’s the menifestation of ALLAH’s wisdom (Hikmah) and His Guidance for us in any sign we see…
those who take protectors other than Allah actually are the ones who think they are building a house for them where they will be protected but in reality their house is like a house of spider which is the most weakest and the most flimsiest of houses being a house not protected by ALLAH…
I dun understand what exactly is your question.. so advance apology if i could not answer
A spider web is an intricate design and a marvel of Allah that such a creature creates such a complicated design, but it is not a strong house or one that will protect the spider against a larger force. On the contrary it is a very weak and vulnerable structure. Thus it is used as an example, that its considered a home by the spider but is extremely weak and exposed, in reality. Thus is the case for those who take someone other than Allah as their protector.
*Sis Nadia - * I got the following from the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir; it is self-explanatory so I won’t add anything from myself.
The parable of those who seek protectors from other than Allah is that of a spider who builds a house; but indeed, the weakest of houses is the spider's house -- if they but knew.)
(42. Verily, Allah knows what things they invoke instead of Him. He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.)
(43. And these are the examples We give for mankind; but none will understand them except those who have knowledge (of Allah).)
*Likening the gods of the Idolators to the House of a Spider *
This is how Allah described the idolators in their reverence of gods besides Him, hoping that they would help them and provide for them, and turning to them in times of difficulties. In this regard, they were like the house of a spider, which is so weak and frail, because by clinging to these gods they were like a person who holds on to a spider's web, who does not gain any benefit from that. If they knew this, they would not take any protectors besides Allah.
This is unlike the Muslim believer, whose heart is devoted to Allah, yet he still does righteous deeds and follows the Laws of Allah, for he has grasped the most trustworthy handle that will never break because it is so strong and firm. Then Allah warns those who worship others besides Him and associate others with Him that He knows what they do and the rivals they associate with Him. He will punish them for their attribution, for He is All-Wise and All-Knowing. Then He says:
(And these are the examples We give for mankind; but none will understand them except those who have knowledge.) meaning, no one understands them or ponders them except those who are possessed of deep knowledge. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Amr bin Murrah said, "I never came across an Ayah of the Book of Allah that I did not know, but it grieved me, because I heard that Allah says:
(And these are the examples We give for mankind; but none will understand them except those who have knowledge.
Spider's web is not really his/her house or dwelling. it is a trap that she builds to get her food. It might get destroyed by other animals and she keeps building more webs to capture more insects to get her food.
They live in holes or any ridge and build their webs out of silk, which their own bodies produce and they pull out of two openings, or spinnerets, with their hind legs. Spiders rebuild their webs constantly, eating them and recycling the silk to make brand new ones. They use these webs to travel, or "balloon," from one place to another,** as protection at the entrances of their dwellings** and to encase egg sacs, and most importantly, to trap insects for food.
As far as strength of web is concerned, it is totally relative like everything else in this world. It is strong enough for small insects such as flies that they can not escape from it or break it. It is obviously very weak for stronger animals.
Okay, i think i am closer to understanding it. Anwaar Qureshi, Faisal Bhai, Brother Sadique, and Analyze It - Thank you all so much. i appreciate it. Thank you.
i get the parable - comparing those who rely on other than Allah for protection and guidance are being compared with the flimsy structure of a spider web; in both cases, neither is strong nor reliable enough. So far, so good, i understand that bit. i guess what i was having problems with, is that my perception of spider webs was a bit inaccurate… i always thought they were pretty strong, and perhaps because the act itself of a spider intuitively spinning a web, to me, symbolizes one of the Signs of Allah and His Power…so it’s something positive. Everything in nature, to me, has to be positive - whether it’s a spider spinning her web or the intricate structures of marine life that can survive in some of the deepest parts of the ocean - it’s all a Sign of Allah. That, plus when i thought of a spider’s web, i think of how a spider had been Commanded by Allah to spin a web outside that cave when Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and Abu Bakr were trying to escape from the Quresh on their way to Medina.
>>As far as strength of web is concerned, it is totally relative like everything else in this world. It is strong enough for small insects such as flies that they can not escape from it or break it. It is obviously very weak for stronger animals.<<
:k: Yep i guess that explains it perfectly :k:
Thank you all, especially for not making me feel stupid :o One of the advantages of having a Religion Forum is that one can ask questions such as these. i really appreciate the help, all. Thank you.
well the spider spinned the web right on the enterance of the cave of Thaur … so when Quresh came near to it, they realized that for a person to enter into the cave, he must have to get rid of the web first… plus right there were the eggs of pigeon which should have been moved too had any person entered the cave…
yeah i guess that’s what’s got me puzzled. When i think of ANYthing related to nature - whether it’s microbes, the sun, rain, animals, deer, antelopes, insects, bees, spiders, gorillas, planets - it’s always something positive for me. Tau by default, a spider’s web was always strong and sturdy in my mind [besides of course being beautiful and so intricate].
Khair It’s my own preconceived notions of a spider web’s physical structure that are at the root of the problem.
The material of spider’s web is infact strogest organic material produced by a living organism. So that to explain it, if you make a rope of that spine of a thickness of pencil. You can pull a Jumbo-jet with that rope.
But as in web of a spider the thinkness is so minute that only small insects are traped in it. And big animals can easily destroy it.
Dont kill me if it is wrong. just saw it on discovery :nahnah:
^^ Code_Red - Just to back you up I got the following info from the Net:
…….. looking at the amazing structural properties of spider silk. The stuff is stronger than steel, yet it can stretch to 140 percent of its length. At the same time, it's inelastic -- it absorbs the energy used to stretch it and doesn't bounce back. A fly, caught in a web, cannot trampoline back off the web. The silk also stays tough at low temperatures.
But its properties vary. Spiders have six spigots for spinning silk, and they mix their fluids to regulate the composition. They can make one kind of silk for catching flies and another to shape a parachute that'll carry them away on the wind.
A spider might spend an hour weaving a web to trap bugs. A day later the gossamer cross members will be broken while the main guy lines stay intact. The spider eats the protein-rich broken strands. Then he spins new silk from the recycled strands.
And it's a material we want! We want to use it in airplanes and bridges -- clothing, body armor, and cable. We've tried to set up spider-silk farms. The trouble is, the spiders won't cooperate. They don't like being crowded. Put too many in a closed space, and they solve the problem by eating each other. If we're ever to have the stuff of spider silk, we'll have to synthesize it. And we haven't figured out how to do that.
Now if we refer to the original quote, can some one provide the scientific backing of the statement of spider web being flimsy and web being the house of spider? Both the statements seems to be less accurate from a scientific and observational standpoint.
quote:
The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the spider, who builds (to itself) a house; but truly the flimsiest of houses is the spider's house;- if they but knew. Verse 41
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by analyze it: *
Excellent information, Code red and IbnSadique:
Now if we refer to the original quote, can some one provide the scientific backing of the statement of spider web being flimsy and web being the house of spider? Both the statements seems to be less accurate from a scientific and observational standpoint.
quote:
The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the spider, who builds (to itself) a house; but truly the flimsiest of houses is the spider's house;- if they but knew. Verse 41
[/QUOTE]
The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the spider, who builds (to itself) a house; but truly the flimsiest of houses is the spider's house;- if they but knew. Verse 41
So, you see sort of contradiction? But then you must not have been reading the above posts attentively.
The above posts by Code Red and me show that the strand of the spider’s silk , weight by weight is stronger than the steel. This has nothing to do with the flimsiness and fragility of the spider’s web.
This is the type of information i was searching for. Thank you everyone.
i think that answers my query. i am satisfied now. It may have seemed a trivial issue to be wondering about. The truth is, i want to understand these Words better. When there is something that is puzzling to me, first i read the commentary notes in the Quran by Yusuf Ali, then check on the web for other approximate translations like Marmaduke Pickthall's; when that doesn't work, i'll ask someone around me who's knowledgeable, and last resort is to post it on gupshup :D In this case, it worked satisfactorily.
Sincerely appreciate everyone's help. May Allah reward you all for your efforts in addressing the question, but especially for not making me feel stupid.
i guess that’s what’s got me puzzled. When i think of ANYthing related to nature - whether it’s microbes, the sun, rain, animals, deer, antelopes, insects, bees, spiders, gorillas, planets - it’s always something positive for me. Tau by default, a spider’s web was always strong and sturdy in my mind [besides of course being beautiful and so intricate].
It’s my own preconceived notions of a spider web’s physical structure that are at the root of the problem.