In “Zayd is brave like a lion,” four elements can be identified:
Mushabbah (مشبه): Zayd, the subject whose quality is described.
Mushabbah bih (مشبه به): the lion, the comparison model.
Particle (أداة التشبيه): “like,” expressing the link.
Point of resemblance (وجه الشبه): courage, the shared attribute.
The first two are the two terms (الطرفان). Not every simile states all four components explicitly; some are understood from context. A sound analysis still distinguishes their functions.
The comparison does not claim that Zayd has every attribute of a lion. It selects the attribute relevant to the speaker's purpose.