—according to what they both said—what is above it in size and magnitude, since the gnat is the ultimate limit in weakness and smallness.
And it has been said regarding the interpretation of His statement, "or what is above it": in smallness and insignificance. Just as it is said regarding a man whom someone mentions and describes as ignoble and stingy, and the listener says: "Yes, and above that," meaning above what he described in stinginess and ignobility (1). But this view contradicts the interpretation of the people of knowledge whose knowledge of the interpretation of the Qur'an is approved.
Thus, it has become clear from what we have described that the meaning of the statement is: Indeed, Allah is not ashamed to describe a likeness for what He compared it to, which is whatever is between a gnat to what is above the gnat.
As for the interpretation of the statement if "a gnat" were in the nominative case, it is not permissible regarding mā except what we have stated—that it be a noun, not an extra word (ṣila) in the sense of stylistic extension (2).
The discourse regarding the interpretation of His statement, Exalted be His praise: ﴿As for those who have believed, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allah intend by this as a parable?"﴾
Abū Jaʿfar said: Exalted be His mention, He means by His statement, "As for those who have believed": As for those who believe Allah and His Messenger. And His statement, "they know that it is the truth from their Lord": He means, they recognize that the parable that Allah set forth for what He set it forth for is a parable.
564- Just as al-Muthannā narrated to me, saying: Isḥāq ibn al-Ḥajjāj narrated to us, saying: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Jaʿfar narrated to us, from his father, from al-Rabīʿ ibn Anas: "As for those who have believed,
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