"Is he who walks fallen upon his face"—not seeing where he places his feet; this is a parable for the disbeliever—"better guided, or he who walks upright"—straight, seeing where he travels; and this is a parable for the believer. Meaning: the believer is better guided than the disbeliever.
Muhammad said: It is said 'akabba 'ala wajhihi' (he fell upon his face) with an alif, and 'kabbahu Allah' (God threw him down) without an alif.
﴿أَفَمَنْ يَمْشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَى وَجْهِهِ﴾ لَا يُبْصِرُ مَوْضِعَ قَدَمَيْهِ؛ وَهَذَا مثلٌ لِلْكَافِرِ ﴿أَهْدَى أَمَّنْ يَمْشِي سويًّا﴾ عَدْلاً يُبْصِرُ حَيْثُ يَسْلُكُ، وَهَذَا مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ؛ أَيْ: أَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ أَهْدَى مِنَ الْكَافِرِ.
قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ: يُقَالُ: أكبَّ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ بِالْأَلِفِ، وكبَّه الله بِغَيْر ألفٍ (١).
