God does not shy away from citing any kind of allegory*, from the tiny mosquito and greater. As for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. As for those who disbelieve, they say, “What did God mean by such an allegory?” He misleads many thereby, and guides many thereby. But He never misleads thereby except the wicked,
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَستَحى ۦ أَن يَضرِبَ مَثَلًا ما بَعوضَةً فَما فَوقَها فَأَمَّا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا فَيَعلَمونَ أَنَّهُ الحَقُّ مِن رَبِّهِم وَأَمَّا الَّذينَ كَفَروا فَيَقولونَ ماذا أَرادَ اللَّهُ بِهٰذا مَثَلًا يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثيرًا وَيَهدى بِهِ كَثيرًا وَما يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الفٰسِقينَ
innal laaha laa yastahyeee ai yadriba masalam maa ba’oodatan famaa fawqahaa; faammal lazeena aamanoo faya’lamoona annahul haqqu mir rabbihim wa ammal lazeena kafaroo fayaqooloona maazaaa araadal laahu bihaazaa masalaa; yudillu bihee kaseeranw wa yahdee bihee kaseeraa; wa maa yudillu biheee illal faasiqeen
*2:26 See Appendix 5 for further discussion of Heaven and Hell.