Sūrat an-Naḥl
Section 10 of 17 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
The Most Comprehensive Verse
What is to be mentioned here — and the rest must be reflected upon by the reader — is that there is one verse in this sūrah which is held to be among the most comprehensive verses, and which is repeated over and over. It is related from ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) that this particular verse of the Qur'an is held to be the most comprehensive verse, gathering in one place all good and all evil, as to what our responsibility is. And there was al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah, one of the enemies of Islam, who on hearing this verse could not but break out in praise of it: that this is so comprehensive a verse, encompassing so many things.
There are three things mentioned in this verse. It stands at the three-quarter mark, at verse 90 of Sūrat an-Naḥl:
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَـٰنِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْبَغْىِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Allah enjoins to do justice and to adopt good behavior and to give relatives (their due rights), and forbids shameful acts, evil deeds and oppressive attitude. He exhorts you, so that you may be mindful.” (16:90)
This is for Muslim and non-Muslim alike; it holds for anyone able to understand. Allah says that Allah commands justice; iḥsān, excellence and good conduct, in every respect; and ītāʾi dhī al-qurbā, the giving to one's relatives. And then He forbids faḥshāʾ, obscenity — obscenity; wa-l-munkar, and every other evil; wa-l-baghy, and excess. Yaʿiẓukum laʿallakum tadhakkarūn: He reminds you and counsels you, that you may take heed.
وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ إِذَا عَـٰهَدتُّمْ وَلَا تَنقُضُوا۟ ٱلْأَيْمَـٰنَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ
“Fulfill the Covenant of Allah when you pledge, and do not break oaths after you swear them solemnly, while you have made Allah a witness over you. Surely, Allah knows all that you do.” (16:91)
And then Allah says wa awfū bi-l-ʿahd, and so on.