Sūrat an-Naḥl
Section 15 of 17 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Call with Wisdom
And now the last verses. There are several things here. The first is verse 125, which must not be passed over. It speaks to the Prophet (peace be upon him), and to the believers generally, as to how people are to be called to Allah — not in any militant or overheated manner:
ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَـٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
“Invite (people) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good counsel. And argue with them in the best of manners. Surely, your Lord knows best the one who deviates from His way, and He knows best the ones who are on the right path.” (16:125)
Udʿu ilā sabīli rabbika bi-l-ḥikmati wa-l-mawʿiẓati al-ḥasanah. Give to them in such a way that it may make a difference to them and they may change. Wa-l-mawʿiẓati al-ḥasanah: and by goodly counsel. Wa jādilhum: and if you must debate with them, bi-llatī hiya aḥsan, then it must be done in the most excellent way — not in crude ways. That is not what one does.