That is contrary to what was assumed. That is because the statement of Allah—exalted is His praise—: “Indeed, Allah is not timid to set forth an example—that of a mosquito or what is above it,” is merely an information from Him—majestic is His mention—that He is not timid to set forth concerning the truth examples small and large, as a trial thereby for His servants and a test from Him for them, in order to distinguish thereby the people of faith and affirmation in Him from the people of misguidance and disbelief in Him, causing thereby some people to go astray and guiding thereby others.

559- As Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr narrated to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim narrated to us, from ʿĪsā, from Ibn Abī Najīḥ, from Mujāhid, regarding His statement: “an example—that of a mosquito,” meaning examples small and large; the believers believe in them and know that they are the truth from their Lord, and Allah guides them thereby and causes the transgressors to go astray thereby. He says: The believers recognize it and believe in it, while the transgressors recognize it and disbelieve in it.

560- Al-Muthannā narrated to me, saying: Abū Ḥudhayfa narrated to us, saying: Shibl narrated to us, from Ibn Abī Najīḥ, from Mujāhid, the like of it.

561- Al-Qāsim narrated to me, saying: Al-Ḥusayn narrated to us, saying: Ḥajjāj narrated to me, from Ibn Jurayj, from Mujāhid, the like of it. (1)

Abū Jaʿfar said: Not that He—majestic is His mention—intended to inform specifically about the mosquito itself that He is not timid to set forth an example using it, but rather, because the mosquito is the weakest of creation—

562- As Al-Qāsim narrated to us, saying: Al-Ḥusayn narrated to us, saying: Abū Sufyān narrated to us, from Maʿmar, from Qatāda, who said: The mosquito is the weakest of what Allah created.

563- Al-Qāsim narrated to us, saying: Al-Ḥusayn narrated to us, saying: Ḥajjāj narrated to me, from Ibn Jurayj, the like of it. (2)