سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 84
قُلْ كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَىٰ شَاكِلَتِهِۦ فَرَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ هُوَ أَهْدَىٰ سَبِيلًا ﴿84﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم to mankind): "Each one does according to Shakilatihi (i.e. his way or his religion or his intentions.), and your Lord knows best of him whose path (religion) is right."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قُلْ
qul
Say
كُلٌّۭ
kullun
Each
يَعْمَلُ
yaʿmalu
works
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
شَاكِلَتِهِۦ
shākilatihi
his manner
فَرَبُّكُمْ
farabbukum
but your Lord
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
(is) most knowing
بِمَنْ
biman
of who
هُوَ
huwa
[he]
أَهْدَىٰ
ahdā
(is) best guided
سَبِيلًۭا
sabīlan
(in) way
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.
84. Say: “Everyone acts according to his own disposition [105], but your Lord knows best who is most rightly guided.”
[105]
The Meaning of Shaakilah:
Shaakilah means manner, way, style—that is, every person acts according to his own temperament. For example, one person gives charity openly with the intention that others may also be encouraged, while another gives charity secretly so that there is no display. Now, see, the intention of both is good, but the method and way of thinking are different. Or, for example, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out at night and saw that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ was reciting the Quran in prayer in a low voice. He ﷺ asked, "Why do you recite so quietly?" He replied, "Because my Lord is not deaf that I should recite loudly." Going further, he ﷺ saw that Sayyiduna Umar ؓ was reciting the Quran in a loud voice. He ﷺ asked, "Why do you recite so loudly?" He replied, "I wake up those who are sleeping and drive away Satan." So the Prophet ﷺ praised both of them. In this incident, the action is the same and the intention of both is good, but the way of thinking is different. This is the meaning of Shaakilah. For this reason, some scholars have taken this word to mean "intention."
[105]
The Meaning of Shaakilah:
Shaakilah means manner, way, style—that is, every person acts according to his own temperament. For example, one person gives charity openly with the intention that others may also be encouraged, while another gives charity secretly so that there is no display. Now, see, the intention of both is good, but the method and way of thinking are different. Or, for example, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out at night and saw that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ was reciting the Quran in prayer in a low voice. He ﷺ asked, "Why do you recite so quietly?" He replied, "Because my Lord is not deaf that I should recite loudly." Going further, he ﷺ saw that Sayyiduna Umar ؓ was reciting the Quran in a loud voice. He ﷺ asked, "Why do you recite so loudly?" He replied, "I wake up those who are sleeping and drive away Satan." So the Prophet ﷺ praised both of them. In this incident, the action is the same and the intention of both is good, but the way of thinking is different. This is the meaning of Shaakilah. For this reason, some scholars have taken this word to mean "intention."
