Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 53

(Ayah 53){وَ قُلْ لِّعِبَادِيْ يَقُوْلُوا الَّتِيْ هِيَ اَحْسَنُ… : ’’ نَزَغَ يَنْزَغُ ‘‘} (ف) means to strike a blow, to cause corruption and disorder. In Surah Al-Baqarah, when Allah Almighty mentioned the covenant taken from the Children of Israel, it included this command: «وَ قُوْلُوْا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا » [ البقرۃ : ۸۳ ] “And speak good to people.” Here, our Ummah is commanded to speak in the best manner, that is, to say the most excellent words. “My servants” refers to the Muslim Ummah, because they are the ones who serve and worship Him. Here, Allah Almighty did not specify to whom the best words should be spoken. This shows that whether it is a Muslim or a disbeliever, a friend or an enemy, it is obligatory to speak in such a way to everyone that no one could say anything better. For this, one must necessarily think before speaking. A scholar said that whenever I said the best thing I could, then reflected on it, I realized that an even better thing could have been said. Here, the harm of not speaking in the best manner is mentioned: when a harsh word slips from the tongue, Satan sows discord and enmity among people. Allah Almighty strongly dislikes Muslims harboring mutual hatred or severing ties. There are many hadiths warning against this. Similarly, not speaking kindly to a disbeliever will result in him becoming even more distant from Islam. Therefore, even in response to his evil, it is obligatory to reply in the best manner. See Surah Al-Mu’minun (96–98). When it is obligatory to respond to a disbeliever’s evil in the best manner, then it is even more necessary to defend against a Muslim’s evil in the best way. Elsewhere, Allah Almighty said that the benefit of responding with the best words and behavior is that even an enemy will become a sincere friend. But this blessing is granted only to the one who is patient and greatly fortunate, whose sign is that he seeks Allah’s refuge from every provocation and anger incited by Satan, and controls himself in times of anger. See Surah Ha Mim As-Sajdah (34–36). For mention of Satan’s open enmity with mankind, see Surah Fatir (6), Al-A’raf (11–27), and the story of Adam and Iblis in Surah Al-Baqarah. The concept of perpetual enmity is evident from {’’كَانَ ‘‘}, and its continuity from the time he refused to prostrate to Adam until the Day of Judgment is proof of this.

53. 1. That is, when conversing with each other, use the tongue with caution, speak good words, and similarly, if there is a need to address the disbelievers, polytheists, or the People of the Book, then speak to them in a compassionate and gentle tone.

53. 2. With the slightest indiscretion of the tongue, Satan, who is your open enemy, can sow discord among you, or he can create greater hatred and enmity for you in the hearts of the disbelievers or polytheists. In the hadith, it is mentioned that the Prophet ﷺ said: None of you should point a weapon at his brother, for he does not know, perhaps Satan may cause the weapon to be discharged by his hand, and it may strike his Muslim brother, resulting in his death, and thus he would fall into the pit of Hell. Sahih Bukhari

53. Tell My servants to say that which is best [64], for surely Satan sows discord among them [65]. Indeed, Satan is a clear enemy to mankind.

[64]
It is Necessary for the Caller to Avoid Harsh Speech:

Every person should ensure that, when addressing others, their tone is gentle and their words are sweet. One should avoid using a harsh or angry tone or bitter words, whether this address is in the context of mutual conversation or in the context of inviting others to religion. Because, due to the harshness of tone or words, stubbornness and enmity arise in the heart of the listener, and this causes the work of inviting to religion or reforming conditions to fall behind.
[65] And Satan desires nothing more than to create mutual hatred, stubbornness, and enmity among you, and to halt the work of invitation and propagation. Therefore, be especially cautious when addressing others. And if you become angry or begin to use a harsh tone or harsh words, know that you have fallen into Satan’s trap. For this reason, Allah has forbidden Muslims even from speaking ill of the idols or deities of the disbelievers, lest the disbelievers, out of stubbornness, retaliate by speaking ill of Allah. [6: 108]