سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 125
ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَـٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿125﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Invite (mankind, O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur’ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱدْعُ
ud'ʿu
Call
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
رَبِّكَ
rabbika
(of) your Lord
بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ
bil-ḥik'mati
with the wisdom
وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ
wal-mawʿiẓati
and the instruction
ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ
l-ḥasanati
the good
وَجَـٰدِلْهُم
wajādil'hum
and discuss with them
بِٱلَّتِى
bi-allatī
in that
هِىَ
hiya
which
أَحْسَنُ ۚ
aḥsanu
(is) best
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
رَبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
هُوَ
huwa
He
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
(is) most knowing
بِمَن
biman
of who
ضَلَّ
ḍalla
has strayed
عَن
ʿan
from
سَبِيلِهِۦ ۖ
sabīlihi
His way
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
And He
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
(is) most knowing
بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
bil-muh'tadīna
of the guided ones
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(O Prophet!) Invite (people) to the way of your Lord with wisdom [128] and good advice, and debate with them in the best manner. Surely, your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best those who are rightly guided.
[128]
Three Instructions for the Caller in Preaching:
From here, the address is directed towards the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. And in this verse, three instructions regarding the preaching of religion have been given. The first instruction is wisdom. "Wisdom" means that, firstly, the invitation should be given considering the appropriate time and place—that is, the invitation should be extended when the listener has the desire to listen and is ready to hear. Secondly, whatever is said should be in accordance with the intellect and understanding of the listener. By "excellent advice" it is meant that whatever you say should be in a sweet and pleasant manner that penetrates the listener's heart. Along with rational arguments, attention should also be given to encouragement and warning, and to matters that appeal to emotions. There should be a yearning in your heart for him, to the extent that the listener feels that you are truly sympathetic towards him. It should not be that you try to show your intellectual superiority over the listener and attempt to overawe him. The third point is that if it comes to exchanging arguments, listen to his words attentively and present your argument in a polite manner, with the aim of mutual understanding. The objective should not be to defeat each other. And if it reaches the point of stubborn disputation, then end the discussion, because in such a case, it is quite possible that the listener, out of stubbornness, may fall into even greater misguidance than before. Some commentators say that the three instructions Allah Almighty gave to you ﷺ—wisdom, excellent advice, and arguing in the best manner—are each for different types of people. That is, among the opponents, there are three types of people. First, there are people of intellect and understanding who can only be convinced by rational arguments. Try to convince them with wise reasoning. Second, there are those who are not very intelligent but possess sound reason and are not stubborn or obstinate. Explain to them through advice, warning, and glad tidings. This will prove most effective for them. Third, there are those who are argumentative, stubborn, and obstinate. With them, you will have to engage in argumentation. Situations of counter-arguments and debate may also arise, but even with them, argue in the best manner. Your responsibility is only to make them aware of the facts. It is not your responsibility to make them accept. And when you see that the listener, instead of understanding, has become stubborn, then turn away from him. Do not waste your time and effort on such people. Instead, direct your attention to those who are seekers of the truth.
[128]
Three Instructions for the Caller in Preaching:
From here, the address is directed towards the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. And in this verse, three instructions regarding the preaching of religion have been given. The first instruction is wisdom. "Wisdom" means that, firstly, the invitation should be given considering the appropriate time and place—that is, the invitation should be extended when the listener has the desire to listen and is ready to hear. Secondly, whatever is said should be in accordance with the intellect and understanding of the listener. By "excellent advice" it is meant that whatever you say should be in a sweet and pleasant manner that penetrates the listener's heart. Along with rational arguments, attention should also be given to encouragement and warning, and to matters that appeal to emotions. There should be a yearning in your heart for him, to the extent that the listener feels that you are truly sympathetic towards him. It should not be that you try to show your intellectual superiority over the listener and attempt to overawe him. The third point is that if it comes to exchanging arguments, listen to his words attentively and present your argument in a polite manner, with the aim of mutual understanding. The objective should not be to defeat each other. And if it reaches the point of stubborn disputation, then end the discussion, because in such a case, it is quite possible that the listener, out of stubbornness, may fall into even greater misguidance than before. Some commentators say that the three instructions Allah Almighty gave to you ﷺ—wisdom, excellent advice, and arguing in the best manner—are each for different types of people. That is, among the opponents, there are three types of people. First, there are people of intellect and understanding who can only be convinced by rational arguments. Try to convince them with wise reasoning. Second, there are those who are not very intelligent but possess sound reason and are not stubborn or obstinate. Explain to them through advice, warning, and glad tidings. This will prove most effective for them. Third, there are those who are argumentative, stubborn, and obstinate. With them, you will have to engage in argumentation. Situations of counter-arguments and debate may also arise, but even with them, argue in the best manner. Your responsibility is only to make them aware of the facts. It is not your responsibility to make them accept. And when you see that the listener, instead of understanding, has become stubborn, then turn away from him. Do not waste your time and effort on such people. Instead, direct your attention to those who are seekers of the truth.
