Tafsir
Tafsir of An-Nahl 76
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَىٰهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And Allāh presents an example of two men, one of them dumb and unable to do a thing, while he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal to one who commands justice, while he is on a straight path?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)
Hafiz Ibn Kathir · English
Another Example
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.
أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ
(whichever way he directs him,) meaning, wherever he sends him
لاَ يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ
(he brings no good.) meaning, he does not succeed in what he wants.
هَلْ يَسْتَوِى
(Is such a man equal) meaning, a man who has these attributes
وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ
(to one who commands justice) meaning fairness, one whose words are true and whose deeds are righteous.
وَهُوَ عَلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
(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.
Tafsir text: quran.com and the House of Islam API. · An-Nahl 16:76