«حَتَّى لَاحُوا كَأَسْنَانِ الْمُشْطِ فِي الِاسْتِوَاءِ»
Until they appeared equal like the teeth of a comb.
The simile of comb teeth gives visible form to the companions’ apparent equality. Its function is not merely decorative. If discord or unequal treatment later appears, the opening picture becomes a benchmark against which that change is felt.
Narratives often establish an initial equilibrium before introducing a disruption. A disciplined reading nevertheless distinguishes the narrator’s image of equality from proof that all members will always act justly. The simile creates an expectation; events determine whether it holds.