The Madinan Period, Part 2: The Masjid, the Brotherhood and the Covenant
Section 22 of 23 · The Life of the Prophet Muhammad: The Madinan Period
Guarding Against Discord
وَقُل لِّعِبَادِى يَقُولُوا۟ ٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ كَانَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا
“Tell My servants that they should speak that which is best. Surely, Satan creates discord among them. Indeed, Satan is an open enemy to mankind.” (17:53)
Allah (swt) is saying to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): tell My servants to speak good, because Shayṭān is there to cause disunity among them, and Shayṭān is indeed an open enemy. Allah (swt) is saying that He could take one of those words that is said and cause a brother to misinterpret it, and so cause a problem — so care is needed over what is said.