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Meccan · Surah 17 of 114

Al-Israa 17:53

The Night Journey · ayah 53 of 111

وَقُل لِّعِبَادِى يَقُولُوا۟ ٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنَ كَانَ لِلْإِنسَٰنِ عَدُوًّۭا مُّبِينًۭا

Waqul liAAibadee yaqooloo allateehiya ahsanu inna ashshaytana yanzaghubaynahum inna ashshaytana kana lil-insaniAAaduwwan mubeena

"And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy."

Saheeh International translation

Recitation by Mishary Alafasy
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Other English translations

Abdel Haleem (Oxford)+

"[Prophet], tell My servants to say what is best. Satan sows discord among them: Satan is a sworn enemy of man."

Pickthall (classic)+

"Tell My bondmen to speak that which is kindlier. Lo! the devil soweth discord among them. Lo! the devil is for man an open foe."

Yusuf Ali (classic)+

"Say to My servants that they should (only) say those things that are best: for Satan doth sow dissensions among them: For Satan is to man an avowed enemy."

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Ibn Kathir

Abridged English, public domain

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People should speak Good Words with Politeness

Allah commands His servant Muhammad ﷺ to tell the believing servants of Allah that they should address one another in their conversations and discussions with the best and politest of words, for if they do not do that, Shaytan will sow discord among them, and words will lead to actions, so that evil and conflicts and fights will arise among them. For Shaytan is the enemy of Adam and his descendants, and has been since he refused to prostrate to Adam. His enmity is obvious and manifest. For this reason it is forbidden for a man to point at his Muslim brother with an iron instrument, for Shaytan may cause him to strike him with it. (Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«لَا يُشِيرَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى أَخِيهِ بِالسِّلَاحِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْرِي أَحَدُكُمْ لَعَلَّ الشَّيْطَانَ أَنْ يَنْزِعَ فِي يَدِهِ فَيَقَعَ فِي حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّار»

(No one of you should point at his brother with a weapon, for he does not know whether Shaytan will cause him to strike him with it and thus be thrown into a pit of Fire.) Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded this Hadith with the chain of narration from `Abdur-Razzaq.

Tafsir Saʿdi

English translation, public domain

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Это откровение свидетельствует о милосердии Аллаха к Своим рабам. Он повелел им придерживаться прекрасного нрава, совершать праведные деяния и говорить наилучшие слова, которые помогут им обрести счастье как при жизни на земле, так и после смерти. Аллах повелел говорить слова, которые приближают человека к Нему. К таким словам относятся чтение Корана, поминание Аллаха, изучение праведных знаний, призыв к совершению благодеяний и избежанию грехов, почтительное обращение с людьми, независимо от их положения и значимости. Сюда также относится предписание выбирать из двух прекрасных поступков самый лучший, если нет возможности совершить оба из них. Воистину, прекрасная речь облагораживает человека замечательными нравственными качествами и побуждает его к праведным деяниям, ибо если человек может удержать от греха свой язык, то он может удержаться от любых грехов. Всевышний также поведал о том, что сатана стремится причинить вред мирскому и духовному благосостоянию людей. А для того, чтобы противостоять ему, человек должен избегать неправедных речей, к которым его подталкивают дьяволы. Он должен быть добр и снисходителен к окружающим, дабы подавить сатану, который сеет между людьми рознь. Воистину, сатана является истинным врагом для человека - врагом, который предлагает людям стать обитателями пылающего Адского Пламени и с которым необходимо сражаться. И если сатане удается посеять вражду между братьями, то они обязаны проявить благоразумие и поступать вопреки воле своего врага. Они должны подавить естественную человеческую страсть, которая подталкивает их к совершению греха и является воротами, через которые сатана проникает в их души. Только так они могут покориться своему Господу и пройти прямым путем.
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Maʿārif al-Qur'ān

Mufti Shafi Usmani, English

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Commentary

Using foul or harsh language is not correct, even against infidels

The first verse (53) prohibits Muslims from talking harshly to disbelievers. It means that a hard line should not be taken unnecessarily, and should there be the need, even killing would be in order - as succinctly put in two lines of Persian poetry:

کہ بےحکم شرع آب خوردن خطاست وگر خون بفتوٰی بریزی رواست

Whereas, without an injunction of the Shari` ah, to drink water is a sin,

In another case, to shed blood under Fatwa is permissible!

Since it is possible to suppress the aggressive might of disbelievers and their hostility to Islam through fighting and killing (as an inevitable measure of defense), therefore, it is allowed. However, by using foul language and harsh words, neither a castle stands conquered nor anyone guided right, therefore, it has been prohibited. Imam al-Qurtubi said that this verse was revealed in the background of an event relating to Sayyidna ` Umar ؓ . It so happened that someone used foul language against Sayyidna ` Umar ؓ who retaliated harshly and wanted to kill him. This posed the danger of a war breaking out between their two tribes. Thereupon, this verse was revealed.

And according to the interpretation of Imam al-Qurtubi, this verse contains a guideline for Muslims as to how they should address each other. It suggests that they should not speak harshly at the time of mutual difference, for this is a trap door through which the Shaitan pushes them into mutual infighting and disorder.

Tafsīr sourced from quran.com's open API. These are classical commentaries; for personal rulings consult a qualified scholar.

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