Response to those who misquote ‘Invite ˹all˺ to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and kind advice” Quran (16:125)

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞 ‘𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 ˹𝐚𝐥𝐥˺ 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞” 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 (𝟏𝟔:𝟏𝟐𝟓)

Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR

“Invite ˹all˺ to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and kind advice, and only debate with them in the best manner. Surely your Lord ˹alone˺ knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is ˹rightly˺ guided.” Quran (16:125)

First, it is imperative to know from the scholars of Islam about the meaning of a specific noble Quranic verse and whether it is an abrogated verse in meaning or ruling completely or partially. Therefore, we are going to start by reviewing the commentary of this verse, which was explained by one of the famous commentators and explainer of the Glorious Quran Imam Al Qurtubi.

𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧/ 𝐓𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐫/𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐥 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐢

This verse Quran (16:125) was revealed in Mecca at the time of the order to make a truce with the Quraish tribe, Allah Exalted He commanded Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him to call to Allah’s religion of Islam with kindness and softness, without harshness or rebukement. And this is how Muslims should be preached by wisdom and good advice until the Day of Resurrection.

This noble Quranic verse has many meanings and rulings that are Muhkam محكم which means they are decisive and not abrogated, and that is to invite all Muslims and non-combatant non-Muslims who do not fight Islam verbally or physically by wisdom and good advice.

However, one of the meanings and the ruling of the above-mentioned noble Quranic verse Quran (16:125) of invite enemies of Islam who abuse, mock and attack Islam and Muslims verbally and physically by wisdom and good advice has been abrogated and the following noble Quranic rulings applies to the enemies of Islam.

“But once the Sacred Months have passed, kill the polytheists ˹Who Violated Their Treaties˺ wherever you find them, capture them, besiege them, and lie in wait for them on every way. But if they Repent, perform prayers, and pay alms-tax, then set them free. Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Quran (9:5)

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞:

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.

𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧:

“Be gracious, enjoin what is right, and turn away from those who act ignorantly.” Quran (7:199)

And

“˹O believers!˺ Do not insult what they invoke besides Allah or they will insult Allah spitefully out of ignorance. This is how We have made each people’s deeds appealing to them. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them of what they used to do.” Quran (6:108)

And

“Allah does not forbid you from dealing kindly and fairly with those who have neither fought nor driven you out of your homes. Surely Allah loves those who are fair.” Quran (60:8)

Simply because:

“Surely your Lord ˹Alone˺ knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is ˹rightly˺ guided.” Quran (68:7)

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐬

Narrated Abdullah binAmr: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever killed a person (non Muslim) having a treaty with the Muslims, shall not smell the smell of Paradise though its smell is perceived from a distance of forty years.”

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3166

In-book reference : Book 58, Hadith 8 USC-MSA web (English)

Reference : Vol. 4, Book 53, Hadith 391

𝐇𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐀 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞:

Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: “A true believer is not involved in taunting, or frequently cursing (others) or in indecency or abusing.” [At-Tirmidhi].

Reference: Riyad as-Salihin 1555

Islam does not allow Muslims or any peaceful non-Muslims to be humiliated, insulted, attacked, or tolerate any form of slurs aimed at Islam or aimed at Muslims or even peaceful non-Muslims unfairly, Islam does not call for subservience or humiliation of Muslims or to anyone else unjustly.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬, 𝐬𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐬, 𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦.

It is absurd and hypocritical that for instance in a country like France, you will be charged if you mock and insult the head of the state/ the president of France but no charges if attack, mock and insult Islam.

Any decent person regardless of their religion, nationality, ethnicity, race and language can safely agree that the victims of unjustified aggression, abuse, mocking, bullying, slandering, insults and attacks, have the unreserved right to seek justice.

Non Religious laws sometimes put a maximum timeframe for the victims to take legal action, such maximum timeframe does not exist in Islam, the victim has the full rigth to get justice regardless of any timeframe.

Islam is the only true religion that has been chosen by our creator Allah Exalted He for humanity from Adam to Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him to mankind, Islam preaches pure strict monotheism, Oneness of God in his Essence, his actions, and his attributions.

Islam linguistically is the true and pure submission to Allah Exalted he the core message of every prophet and messenger from Adam to the last and final Prophet and messenger of God to Mankind, Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him.

𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧:

“Whoever seeks a way other than Islam, it will never be accepted from them, and in the Hereafter, they will be among the losers.” Quran (3:85)

Muslims are instructed to preach the true pure message of Islam peacefully to humanity as delivered by our beloved Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him and by the understanding of our pious predecessors (Al-Salaf Al Salih)

But during preaching Islam to non-Muslims, many of them tend to take offence, purpose of preaching Islam to non-Muslims to offend them, but to advise them about the reality of the false Gods they worship, such as those who worship idols or Prophet Issa son of Maryam (Prophet Jesus son of Mary).

Non-Muslims reactions varies from person to another, a Muslim preacher in general should not initiate any form of insults but tried to get his message across by wisdom and good advice. In fact, it is forbidden to initiate any form of insult, attack whether physically or not against any innocent regardless of whether they are Muslims or not.

However, the reaction of non-Muslims isn’t the same, some are polite and mature enough to have reasonable dialogue yet clinging to their falsehood, as Muslims we have no reason attack them verbally etc.

The problem arises from those non-Muslims who have been brainwashed with the anti-Islamic sentiment and propaganda that has been running in multiple media outlets whether mainstream media or alternative media outlets.

Despite Islam teaching of being humble, tolerant, patient and kind, Islam never teaches Muslims to be humiliated, insulted, attacked, or tolerate any form of slurs aimed at Islam or unjustly aimed at Muslims, Islam does not call for subservience or humiliation of Muslims or to any creature unjustly. On the contrary Islam teaches Muslims take pride of Islam as the only true religion of Allah.

Islam also teaches us to respond to those enemies of Islam not only but wisdom and good advice but also by responding to their verbal attacks, slurs and even to their physical attacks accordingly and on case-by-case cases, and as for every action (force) there is an equal or more and opposite reaction.

We would like to confirm that Islam does not advise us to initiate any form of attacks, or violence against anyone who is peaceful and minding their own business. We here are talking about those who initiate different types of attacks against Islam and Muslims, which basically give Muslims reserved right to react.

Sadly, some Muslims ignorantly step in to try to stop Muslim preachers for responding to those enemies of Islam who use different types of dirty tactics such as verbal attacks, slurs, mocking Islam and even mocking Allah Exalted He and the Glorious Holy Qur’an, and the misquote this noble Quranic verse:

𝐈𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞:

Invite ˹all˺ to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and kind advice, and only debate with them in the best manner. Surely your Lord ˹alone˺ knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is ˹rightly˺ guided. Quran (16:125)

In fact, if those Muslims read the very next verse it will explain to them that, Allah Exalted He never instructed Muslims to accept any form humiliation, insults, attacks, or tolerate any form of slurs aimed at Islam or unjustly aimed at Muslims, Islam does not call for subservience or humiliation, nor teach us to turn the other cheek to continue copping such humiliation from enemies of Islam.

𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞:

“If you retaliate, then let it be equivalent to what you have suffered. But if you patiently endure, it is certainly best for those who are patient.” Quran (16:126)

Those type of Muslims in justifying their Islamically unacceptable behavior, they use excuses such as the need to co-exist within a Multicultural secular society. They even take it further to justify their misunderstanding by misquoting another Noble Quranic verse:

“You have your way, and I have my Way.” Quran (109:6)

𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦:

One of the biggest challenges during challenges that face Muslims around the world in recent times, not only the enemies of Islam or the spread of defeatism among them due to some political divisions, but most importantly the lack of wide-spread access to authentic Islamic knowledge.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, among what I fear most for my nation is every hypocrite with a knowledgeable tongue.”

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 140

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Ahmad Shakir

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞, 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦.

Such hindering to Muslim preachers whether ignorantly by some Muslims who lack authentic Islamic knowledge or deliberately by hypocrites and enemies of Islam, eventually plays negative rule in hindering Muslim preachers from spreading the message of Islam to everyone.

It gets even worse to see some enemies of Islam who attack Islam viciously and rush to misquote the very same noble qur’anic verse of Quran (16:125) to hide behind it and prevent Muslim preachers from responding to the vicious atatcks, slurs and sometimes physical aggression too. It would be beneficial if they at least read the following Quranic verse, which we are going to provide as follows

If you retaliate, then let it be equivalent to what you have suffered. But if you patiently endure, it is certainly best for those who are patient. Quran (16:125-126).

𝐍𝐨 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐎𝐑 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦.

Islam does not preach subservience and submissiveness except to Allah Exalted He alone, obedience to all Islamic Shari’ah laws and to whom implement it correctly and if living in a non-Muslim country, a Muslim should abide by the laws if it does not contravene with any Islamic teachings.

However, the general rule in Islam is no obedience to anyone order and encourage the disobedience of Allah Exalted He.

Muslims are allowed and have the right under Islam to retribute and punish those who mock, insult and attack Islam and Muslims physically and verbally as long as Muslims did not initiate any form of aggression against anyone.

Why some non-Muslims have the need to mock, insult and attack Islam, why aren’t they ready for genuine mature discussions. The answer is really simple, which is people who follow their desires, lusts and have disregard for the creator, find Islam stands firm against their corrupt ideology that reject Islam teachings.

𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬.

As utopian and romantic as it sounds, Christianity that claims that it preaches “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” Matthews 5:44 and Christians claim to follow those teachings.

However, we have never heard that any army in the world has a lovers training center or they train their soldiers to throw their enemies with flowers and perfume bottles.

Both history and reality has proven time after time that almost every single in the world not only has armed forces and armed Police force, but also, they dedicate enormous budgets and huge resources to those forces.

Countries with Judeo Christian heritage are no exception, in fact, Countries with Judeo Christian heritage are the world leading countries in having biggest and most advanced armed forces and armed police forces, not just by relying on importing weapons but also, on being the major manufacturers and exporters of different types of weapons to the rest of the world.

History and reality prove that Countries with Judeo Christian heritage have run multiple crusade campaigns against many Muslim countries over past centuries till today, former US president George Bush declared it load and clear when intended to invade Iraq and Afghanistan. Check end of the article for reference about this part

All the above, proves beyond reasonable doubts the impracticality, unrealistic and fantasy of “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” Matthews 5:44

Humanity can not survive with love alone; Justice is a critical requirement for the survival of humanity and that is what Islam teaches. Not by love alone Humanity survives.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭)

𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐇𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧:

“The reward of an evil deed is its equivalent. But whoever pardons and seeks reconciliation, then their reward is with Allah. He certainly does not like the wrongdoers.” Quran (42:40)

𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨, 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐚𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐢𝐦:

“So, he ‘Noah’ began to build the Ark, and whenever some of the chiefs of his people passed by, they mocked him. He said, “If you laugh at us, we will ˹soon˺ laugh at you similarly. Quran (11:38)

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦 – 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐦

𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧/𝐓𝐚𝐟𝐬𝐢𝐫 𝐈𝐛𝐧 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 (𝟏𝟔:𝟏𝟐𝟓)

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

Allah commands His Messenger Muhammad to invite the people to Allah with Hikmah (wisdom). Ibn Jarir said: “That is what was revealed to him from the Book and the Sunnah.”

(And fair preaching) meaning, with exhortation and stories of the events that happened to people that are mentioned in the Qur’an, which he is to tell them about in order to warn them of the punishment of Allah.

(And argue with them with that which is best.) meaning, if any of them want to debate and argue, then let that be in the best manner, with kindness, gentleness, and good speech, as Allah says elsewhere:

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞-𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 (𝟏𝟔:𝟏𝟐𝟓)

And

“Do not argue with the People of the Book unless gracefully, except with those of them who act wrongfully. And say, “We believe in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to you. Our God and your God is ˹only˺ One. And to Him we ˹fully˺ submit.” Quran (29:46)

𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐚𝐬 𝐇𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐡, 𝐚𝐬 𝐇𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝:

“And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear Allah” Quran (20: 44).

And

“Truly, your Lord best knows who has strayed from His path” Quran (68:7)

Meaning, Allah already knows who is doomed (destined for Hell) and who is blessed (destined for Paradise).

This has already been written with Him and the matter is finished, so call them to Allah, but do not exhaust yourself with regret over those who go astray, for it is not your task to guide them. You are just a warner, and all you have to do is convey the Message, and it is He Who will bring them to account.

“You cannot guide whom you love” Quran (28:56)