Bab fi anna al-Mithl ghayr al-Mathal wal-Mithal

Distinguishing Mithl, Mathal, and Mithal

Vocabulary: مُنْذُ (Mundhu): since, from the time of. ضَافًّا (Dhaffan): lining up in rows, gathering together. يَدْنُو مِنْهُ (Yadnu Minhu): he will draw near to him.

Translation: Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) narrated that he said, the Prophet ﷺ said: "Since Allah Ta'ala created Israfil, he has been standing with his feet gathered together (in rows). He does not lift his eyes up (towards anywhere). Between Allah Ta'ala's light and him (i.e. Israfil) are seventy veils of light. If anyone comes near any of these veils, he will certainly burn; he will burn and become black ash." (Tirmidhi narrated this hadith and declared it Sahih. Mishkat)

(This chapter is to explain that "Mithl" (with Kasrah) is equality and a thing is compared with Mathal and Mithal - i.e. giving an example for similarity)

Vocabulary: مِثْل (Mithl): like, equal, a particle of comparison, its plural is اَمْثَال (Amthal). مَثَل (Mathal): example, proverb, story. قَالَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى: لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهٖ شَيْءٌ ۚ وَهُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْبَصِيْرُ ۞ (Ayat 11 - Ash-Shura) *Translation: Allah Ta'ala says: "There is nothing like Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing."* That is, there is none like Him and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing. قَالَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى: اَللّٰهُ نُوْرُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ ۭ مَثَلُ نُوْرِهٖ كَمِشْكٰوةٍ فِيْهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۭ اَلْمِصْبَاحُ فِيْ زُجَاجَةٍ ۭ اَلزُّجَاجَةُ كَاَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ ۙ (Ayat 35 - An-Nur) Vocabulary: مَثَل (Mathal): example. كَ (Ka): like, as. مِشْكٰوة (Mishkat): niche, a lantern. مِصْبَاح (Misbah): lamp, its plural is مَصَابِيْح (Masabih). زُجَاجَة (Zujajah): glass, a glass globe. كَوْكَب (Kawkab): a bright star, its plural is كَوَاكِب (Kawakib). دُرِّيّ (Durri): very bright star. Translation: Allah Ta'ala says: "Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. From Him is the manifestation of every thing, every thing is apparent. The example of His light is like a niche in which there is a lamp. The lamp is within a glass globe, a lantern. And that glass globe itself is extremely transparent and shining like a brilliant star that is very luminous." "It is clear that those who state a similarity give an example for the explanation of a thing. A thing's explanation is also given by an example, and there is similarity in it too. God does not have any likeness. وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ is His Essence, and لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهٖ شَيْءٌ is His Attributes. However, some attributes of the Divine are explained merely for understanding. But comparing the attributes of the Creator with the attributes of creation is..." ---