Quran Universe
16:76

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلٗا رَّجُلَيۡنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبۡكَمُ لَا يَقۡدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيۡءٖ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوۡلَىٰهُ أَيۡنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأۡتِ بِخَيۡرٍ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِي هُوَ وَمَن يَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ

Wadaraba Allahu mathalan rajulayni ahaduhuma abkamu la yaqdiru AAala shayin wahuwa kallun AAala mawlahu aynama yuwajjihhu la yati bikhayrin hal yastawee huwa waman yamuru bialAAadli wahuwa AAala siratin mustaqeemin

And Allah 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?

Word by word
  1. وَضَرَبَAnd Allah sets forth
  2. ٱللَّهُAnd Allah sets forth
  3. مَثَلٗاan example
  4. رَّجُلَيۡنِ(of) two men
  5. أَحَدُهُمَآone of them
  6. أَبۡكَمُ(is) dumb
  7. لَاnot
  8. يَقۡدِرُhe has power
  9. عَلَىٰon
  10. شَيۡءٖanything
  11. وَهُوَwhile he
  12. كَلٌّ(is) a burden
  13. عَلَىٰon
  14. مَوۡلَىٰهُhis master
  15. أَيۡنَمَاWherever
  16. يُوَجِّههُّhe directs him
  17. لَاnot
  18. يَأۡتِhe comes
  19. بِخَيۡرٍwith any good
  20. هَلۡIs
  21. يَسۡتَوِيequal
  22. هُوَhe
  23. وَمَنand (the one) who
  24. يَأۡمُرُcommands
  25. بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ[of] justice
  26. وَهُوَand he
  27. عَلَىٰ(is) on
  28. صِرَٰطٖa path
  29. مُّسۡتَقِيمٖstraight
An-Nahl · 16:76Makkah

A burden who brings no good, beside one who commands justice.

The second parable: two men again

Two men
the mute onea burden, brings no good
versus
the just onecommands justice, straight path
What makes the difference
wherever sent, failsno word, no deed
true words, right deedson a straight path

Mujahid said this again compares idols with the True God: the idol cannot speak, cannot act, and is carried by its owner. Ibn Abbas said it is also the disbeliever and the believer. The other man commands fairness and walks straight.

In the family group chat, one cousin only complains and never shows up when help is needed. Another quietly organizes, settles the argument fairly, and does what she said she would. You know which one you want to be.

As long as I am not harming anyone, I am fine.

The verse praises the one who brings good and stands for fairness, not just avoids harm.

Try this

In one disagreement today, say the fair thing even if it does not favor you.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

And Allah gives an example of two men, one of them dumb, who has no power over anything, and he is a burden on his master; whichever way he directs him, he brings no good. Is such a man equal to one who commands justice, and is himself on the straight path (76)

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

لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ

(he brings no good.) meaning, he does not succeed in what he wants.

هَلْ يَسْتَوِي

(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 عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ 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.