Spider’s Web- Shiza’s Work

The example of those who take allies other than Allah is like that of the spider who takes a home. And indeed, the weakest of homes is the home of the spider, if only they knew. [Quran 29:41]
The singular form of the Arabic word اَولِيآء (“auliyaa”) that is mentioned in this verse, is ولى (“wali”), which means “protector, helper, governor, king, ruler, or judge”. The other word used in this verse is the word “Awhan”- translated normally as the weakest; but a deeper look into the meaning suggests that it means severe weakness, misery and helplessness both physically and mentally.
In this ayah Allah has drawn parable of taking a spider’s home as Awhan to those who take Auliya other than Allah. Few Characteristics of the spider’s web and its life is as follows:
– It has a very flimsy, weak foundation. Though it hangs off sturdy supports such as walls, tree branches, or pillars, it is not strong in and of itself.
– It is made of extremely fine, weak, interwoven threads; not strong, solid raw material.
– It is two-dimensional in structure i.e. it is flat. It does not stand upon firm, hard ground. There are no roofs or walls offering security and cover from destructive climatic elements. Wind or rain can wash it away.
– The spider sits in the middle of its web, somewhat in isolation. The spider is always all by itself- living all it’s life all alone.
– The whole of spider’s life is filled with misery, isolation, helplessness and weaknesses- Due to sexual cannibalization, the male is eaten by the female; as well as the fact that in vast majority of the cases, when food becomes scarce the mother is forced to feed her young unhatched eggs; a young spiderling must go through the trauma of eating their own unborn brothers and sisters to stay alive.
Hence a spider’s life is full of misery, loneliness, selfishness and weakness, physically as well as psychologically. Wow what a wonderful simile is drawn by Allah to equate those who take Auliya other than Allah as taking spider’s web as their homes. Another example of explaining a whole concept in Quran by using just few words. Subhanallah.
We leaned all this due to this work by Shiza- an 11- year old very talented and smart girl in our Quran Fahmi classes. We are blessed to have student like her Alhamdulliah, and pray for her to continue making her teachers and parents proud. Ameen