Tafseer of The Bee · An-Nahl · 16:60
For those who do not believe in the Hereafter is the description of evil; and for Allah is the highest attribute. And He is Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
لِلَّذِينَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالآخِرَةِ مَثَلُ السَّوْءِ (For those who do not believe in the Hereafter belongs the evil likeness) — Allah, exalted be His mention, says: Those who do not believe in the Resurrection and the Requital possess the attributes of evil and the wicked qualities — namely, the ascribing of daughters to Allah while they themselves despise that for themselves, and other reprehensible deeds that were described earlier in this chapter. وَلِلَّهِ الْمَثَلُ الأعْلَى (And to Allah belongs the highest likeness): to Allah belong the highest and most exalted attributes, for to Him belongs all perfection and loftiness, exalted above shortcomings and defects. وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ (And He is the Almighty, the All-Wise): He is Almighty in His vengeance upon those who defy Him and disobey Him, All-Wise in His governance of His creation and in His commands and prohibitions.
Mention of those who explained the above:
Bishr ibn Muʿādh related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word لِلَّذِينَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالآخِرَةِ مَثَلُ السَّوْءِ وَلِلَّهِ الْمَثَلُ الأعْلَى : the evil likeness is for the unbeliever — namely, all that is evil and reprehensible — while Allah has the highest likeness: that is, all goodness and perfection.
Yūnus related to us, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His word لِلَّذِينَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالآخِرَةِ مَثَلُ السَّوْءِ : the evil likeness is for the one who does not believe in the Hereafter — namely, all that they ascribe to Allah of unworthiness and evil. وَلِلَّهِ الْمَثَلُ الأعْلَى (And to Allah belongs the highest likeness): the most exalted likeness and the best description belong to Allah.