بَيْتُ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ Perception and meanings; it is NOT Spider's Web.

[Mazhar]

Grand Quran has given an example to elaborate the psyche/conduct of certain people
"The example of those people who have adopted/perceived as protectors/god fathers other than Allah is like a peculiar female spider who adopted a house. And indeed the flimsiest house is that adopted house of the female spider if they know/have the information" {Refer 2941}

After translating the words to mean that spider builds/makes a house it is explained in the exegeses in Urdu and English that the spider's web is the weakest of the houses. But the fact of the matter is that there is not a single word which could make us infer that Quran has referred to "Spider's web". Quran has not even said that spider makes or builds a house. It has said that "she acquired/seized/took/adopted a house". is past, feminine, singular; its Root is " " which signifies to take, receive, get, seize, capture, acquire, adopt. This has been used in relation to which is also past, masculine, plural from the same Root which has correctly been translated as "take, choose, accept". Lane's Lexicon also translated it as "Spider's Web"
Web of the Spider is not a house but it is a trap. A trap is built, constructed, structured, and made. One could infer "Spider's web" if the words used were " ""constructed a house". Male and female spider do not live together as a family therefore there can't be a question of family mansion. Male and female construct/ build traps individually and separately. Male and female belonging to even the same specie do not come closer when overpowered by the desire of mating. They first introduce and recognize each other before coming closer for love and sex????????.more

http//haqeeqat.org.pk/English%20Tafsir%20e%20Haqeeqat/002.%20Meanings%20and%20Tabweeb%20of%20words/008.%20Baitil%20ankaboot%20Spider/08.%20Baitil%20Ankaboot%20Spider.htm

I solicit comments, views and suggestions for corrections, improvements.

[explorer]

My 2 cents

The spider web is the strongest biological substance known to mankind ... stronger then steel. Only molten quartz can surpass the strength of spider's silk.

Yes I agree. Physically the house is very strong. On the other hand, the home is very week and replete with barbaric acts. Most males are eaten by females after the intercourse and some times before as well. Females eat their off springs. Siblings eat each other in the sac (survival of the fittest).

Having said that book must be talking about the "home of the spider" rather than the "house of the spider". I am wondering if there is a separate word for "home" in arabic (than "house&quot and why was not that used? If the book is not talking about physical home then why did the word "house" is used?

Something that interests me more is how the book has used a singular for the female spider and plural for bees and ants. Almost all spiders live solitary life (non-group) while bees and ants live in groups.

[Mazhar]

Dear Explorer,

Where were you for couple of days?

The Book has used "She adopted a Bait". Bait includes any temporary structure. "Home" conveys a perception of permanent fixture/abode/habitat. Home also conveys some sense of "family, social grouping" while spiders dont have the concept of a family living. Many species depart peacfully from each other after mating.

[explorer]

Dear Explorer,

Where were you for couple of days?

The Book has used "She adopted a Bait". Bait includes any temporary structure. "Home" conveys a perception of permanent fixture/abode/habitat. Home also conveys some sense of "family, social grouping" while spiders dont have the concept of a family living. Many species depart peacfully from each other after mating.

Mazhar,

I was exploring Hawaii for last 10 days ... the nature at its best. Now I am back to salt mine.

The book says "The spider adopted an house. The house of a spider is a week house.". The question is what is a house of a spider? Where do spiders live, if they not live in the web?

I am trying to understand your point. I read your article. I understand that your understanding of the term "adopted a house" is as follows. Is that correct?

"The females of many species place the egg sac on a stalk, wraps leaves about it, attach it to a stone, or cover it with smooth silk before abandoning it. Other females guard the egg sac or carry it either in their jaws or attached to the spinnerets. If a female loses an egg sac, she makes searching movements and may pick up a pebble or a piece of paper and attach it to the spinnerets. (With thanks from Encyclopaedia Britannica-Spider}"

Are you referring an "egg sac" as an adopted house? Or are you referring to the whole phenomena of carrying an egg sac, losing it, and searching it, as an "adopted house"?

[Mazhar]

Nice that you are back with us.
She adopted/acquired a piece of paper or pebble. Placed her egg sac on that, wrapped/arranged thread on it. This is her adopted/temporary bait to keep her "children". Why this adopted house of her is the weakest is quite obvious. Any insect passing by it or even light blowing of air will take it away. That is why she searches and not finding it deliberately takes a piece of paper or else and attaches it to her spinnerets {say chest}. Don't you know that the majority of the people in the univsrse are carrying empty papers attached to their chests which contain nothing but traditions/sayings of past people, whether muslims, christians or jews or others. Compare the similarity in the attitude of that particular spider female who adopts a house. Spiders keep making webs whenever they need prey for diet. Then either eat it away or abandon it.

[explorer]

Nice that you are back with us.
She adopted/acquired a piece of paper or pebble. Placed her egg sac on that, wrapped/arranged thread on it. This is her adopted/temporary bait to keep her "children". Why this adopted house of her is the weakest is quite obvious. Any insect passing by it or even light blowing of air will take it away. That is why she searches and not finding it deliberately takes a piece of paper or else and attaches it to her spinnerets {say chest}. Don't you know that the majority of the people in the univsrse are carrying empty papers attached to their chests which contain nothing but traditions/sayings of past people, whether muslims, christians or jews or others. Compare the similarity in the attitude of that particular spider female who adopts a house. Spiders keep making webs whenever they need prey for diet. Then either eat it away or abandon it.

Mazhar,

I see your point.

When I read the verse about the spider house a while ago, I assumed that Quran is talking about the spider web. I said to myself the web of a spider is a very strong substance, how can it be the weakest house. It may look tenious to those people but now we know that a web is not a weak material. I revisited the subject after reading your post and it is clear that Quran may not be talking about the web. One of my outstanding confusion is resolved.

Side note I admire your efforts of exploring the book in detail; as visible by your articles and posts.