And, indeed, We have set forth to men all kinds of parables in this Qur’an that they may take heed.
Islam, The Holy Qur’an, 39:28The parable of the believer is like the plant; the wind does not stop causing it to sway, and the believer does not stop suffering trials. The parable of the hypocrite is that of a cedar tree, it does not give in until it is cut down.
Islam, Saying of the Holy Prophet (sa), Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, 2866
Literal interpretation of such subtle and profound metaphors is like distorting beauty into monstrosity. Fine metaphorical shades are the life and spirit of eloquence. That is why the divine word, which is the most eloquent of all speech, employs such refined figures of speech as no human speech can ever rival. To persist in equating the pristine purity of the metaphorical original with crude and commonplace literality, regardless of context and occasion, is tantamount to reducing miracles of expression and style to dust.
Islam, Saying of the Promised Messiah (as), Elucidation of Objectives, pp. 12-13
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us.
Judaism, The Tanakh, Psalm 78:1-3
When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, ‘The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’
Christianity, the Bible, Mark 4:10-12
Knowing that all the living have many and various desires deep-rooted in their minds, I have, according to their capacity, expounded the various laws by which these [desires] could be overcome with various reasonings, parabolic expressions, and expedients.
Buddhism, Lotus Sutra 2
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