سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ
Surah Al-Muminoon (23) — Ayah 96
ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ٱلسَّيِّئَةَ ۚ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ ﴿96﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Repel evil with that which is better. We are Best-Acquainted with the things they utter.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱدْفَعْ
id'faʿ
Repel
بِٱلَّتِى
bi-allatī
by that
هِىَ
hiya
which
أَحْسَنُ
aḥsanu
(is) best
ٱلسَّيِّئَةَ ۚ
l-sayi-ata
the evil
نَحْنُ
naḥnu
We
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
know best
بِمَا
bimā
of what
يَصِفُونَ
yaṣifūna
they attribute
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 96) ➊ { اِدْفَعْ بِالَّتِيْ هِيَ اَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ …:} That is, the delay in punishment that We are making has wisdom in it. During this time, you should respond to their every evil and excess in such a way that is not only good, but the best. We know very well what they say, how they show disrespect towards Allah, and how they call you a soothsayer, poet, magician, madman, etc.
➋ The best way to respond to evil is that evil should be answered with goodness, oppression with justice, betrayal with honesty, lies with truth, severing of ties with maintaining relations, and abuse with prayer and greetings. Elsewhere, Allah Almighty has stated the result of acting in this way: «اِدْفَعْ بِالَّتِيْ هِيَ اَحْسَنُ فَاِذَا الَّذِيْ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَهٗ عَدَاوَةٌ كَاَنَّهٗ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيْمٌ » [ حٰمٓ السجدۃ : ۳۴ ] “Repel (evil) with that (conduct) which is best; then suddenly the one between whom and you there was enmity will become as though he were a devoted friend.” In this, forgiveness and overlooking are taught, because this is the best way to live together with people. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: [ وَاللّٰهِ! مَا انْتَقَمَ لِنَفْسِهِ فِيْ شَيْءٍ يُؤْتَی إِلَيْهِ قَطُّ حَتّٰی تُنْتَهَكَ حُرُمَاتُ اللّٰهِ فَيَنْتَقِمُ لِلّٰهِ ] [ بخاري، الحدود، باب إقامۃ الحدود والانتقام لحرمات اللہ : ۶۷۸۶ ] “By Allah! The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) never took revenge for any wrong done to himself, except when the sanctities of Allah were violated, then he would take revenge for the sake of Allah.”
➋ The best way to respond to evil is that evil should be answered with goodness, oppression with justice, betrayal with honesty, lies with truth, severing of ties with maintaining relations, and abuse with prayer and greetings. Elsewhere, Allah Almighty has stated the result of acting in this way: «اِدْفَعْ بِالَّتِيْ هِيَ اَحْسَنُ فَاِذَا الَّذِيْ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَهٗ عَدَاوَةٌ كَاَنَّهٗ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيْمٌ » [ حٰمٓ السجدۃ : ۳۴ ] “Repel (evil) with that (conduct) which is best; then suddenly the one between whom and you there was enmity will become as though he were a devoted friend.” In this, forgiveness and overlooking are taught, because this is the best way to live together with people. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: [ وَاللّٰهِ! مَا انْتَقَمَ لِنَفْسِهِ فِيْ شَيْءٍ يُؤْتَی إِلَيْهِ قَطُّ حَتّٰی تُنْتَهَكَ حُرُمَاتُ اللّٰهِ فَيَنْتَقِمُ لِلّٰهِ ] [ بخاري، الحدود، باب إقامۃ الحدود والانتقام لحرمات اللہ : ۶۷۸۶ ] “By Allah! The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) never took revenge for any wrong done to himself, except when the sanctities of Allah were violated, then he would take revenge for the sake of Allah.”
