Surah Fussilat ayat 36 Tafsir Quran 41:36

﴿وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ﴾
[ فصلت: 36]

41:36 And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

And if wa-immā here the nūn of the conditional particle in has been assimilated with the mā which is extra some temptation from Satan should provoke you in other words if some diversion should turn you away from that better trait and other good acts then seek refuge in God this is the response to the conditional ‘and if’; the response to the command clause is omitted being ‘and He will ward it off from you’. Truly He is the Hearer of what is said the Knower of what is done.

And if AL-Shaytan entices you by suggesting diversity or discord secretly to your mind, do not consent nor be actuated, but commit yourself to Allah counter to the evil he instigated; Allah is indeed AL-Sami’ (the Omnipresent with unlimited audition) and AL-Aleem (the Omniscient)

The Virtue of calling Others to Allah وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلاً مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى اللَّهِ ( And who is better in speech than he who invites to Allah, ) means, he calls the servants of Allah to Him. وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحاً وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ( and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims." ) means, he himself follows that which he says, so it benefits him as well as others.
He is not one of those who enjoin good but do not do it themselves, or who forbid evil yet they do it themselves.
He does good and avoids doing evil, and he calls people to their Creator, may He be blessed and exalted.
This is general in meaning and applies to everyone who calls people to what is good and is himself guided by what he says.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ is the foremost among people in this regard, as Muhammad bin Sirin, As-Suddi and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said.
It was also said that what was meant here is the righteous Mu'adhdhin, as it was mentioned in Sahih Muslim:
«الْمُؤَذِّنُونَ أَطْوَلُ النَّاسِ أَعْنَاقًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة»
( The Mu'adhdhins will be the ones with the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection. )" In As-Sunan it is reported that the Prophet said:
«الْإِمَامُ ضَامِنٌ، وَالْمُؤَذِّنُ مُؤْتَمَنٌ، فَأَرْشَدَ اللهُ الْأَئِمَّةَ وَغَفَرَ لِلْمُؤَذِّنِين»
( The Imam is a guarantor and the Mu'adhdhin is in a position of trust.
May Allah guide the Imams and forgive the Mu'adhdhin. )" The correct view is that the Ayah is general in meaning, and includes the Mu'adhdhin and others.
When this Ayah was revealed, the Adhan had not been prescribed at all.
The Ayah was revealed in Makkah, and the Adhan was prescribed in Al-Madinah after the Hijrah, when it was shown to `Abdullah bin `Abd Rabbihi Al-Ansari in a dream.
He told the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it, and he told him to teach it to Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, who had a more beautiful voice, as we have discussed elsewhere.
So the correct view is that the Ayah is general in meaning, as `Abdur-Razzaq said, narrating from Ma`mar, from Al-Hasan Al-Basri, who recited this Ayah: وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلاً مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحاً وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ( And who is better in speech than he who invites to Allah, and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims." ) and said, "This is the beloved of Allah, this is the close friend of Allah, this is the chosen one of Allah, this is the most beloved of the all the people of earth to Allah.
He responded to the call of Allah and called mankind to that to which he had responded.
He did righteous deeds in response and said, `I am one of the Muslims.' This is Allah's Khalifah." Wisdom in Da`wah etc وَلاَ تَسْتَوِى الْحَسَنَةُ وَلاَ السَّيِّئَةُ ( The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. ) means, there is a huge difference between them. ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ( Repel (the evil ) with one which is better,) means, `when someone does you wrong, repel him by treating him well,' as `Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "There is no better punishment for one who has disobeyed Allah with regard to you, than your obeying Allah with regard to him." فَإِذَا الَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ ( then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become ) as though he was a close friend.) means, `if you treat well those who treat you badly, this good deed will lead to reconciliation, love and empathy, and it will be as if he is a close friend to you and he will feel pity for you and be kind to you.' Then Allah says: وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ ( But none is granted it except those who are patient ) meaning, no one accepts this advice and works according to it, except for those who can be patient in doing so, for it is difficult for people to do. وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَآ إِلاَّ ذُو حَظِّ عَظِيمٍ ( and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion ) means, the one who has a great portion of happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas explained this Ayah: "Allah commands the believers to be patient when they feel angry, to be forbearing when confronted with ignorance, and to forgive when they are mistreated.
If they do this, Allah will save them from the Shaytan and subdue their enemies to them until they become like close friends." وَإِمَّا يَنَزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَـنِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ( And if an evil whisper from Shaytan tries to turn you away, then seek refuge in Allah. ) means, the devils among men may be deceived by your kind treatment of him, but the devils among the Jinn, when they insinuate their evil whispers, cannot be dealt with except by seeking refuge with the Creator Who gave him power over you.
If you seek refuge with Allah and turn to Him, He will stop him from harming you and bring his efforts to naught.
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up to pray, he would say:
«أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ السَّمِيعِ الْعَلِيمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ، مِنْ هَمْزِهِ وَنَفْخِهِ وَنَفْثِه»
( I seek refuge in Allah the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, from the accursed Shaytan and his evil insinuations, breath and impurity. )" We have already stated that there is nothing like this in the Qur'an, apart from the passage in Surat Al-A`raf, where Allah says: خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِض عَنِ الْجَـهِلِينَ - وَإِمَّا يَنَزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَـنِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ( Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish.
And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytan, then seek refuge with Allah.
Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower. ) ( 7:199-200 ) and the passage in Surat Al-Mu'minun where Allah says: ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ - وَقُلْ رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيـطِينِ - وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ ( Repel evil with that which is better.
We are Best-Acquainted with the things they utter.
And say: "My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the whisperings of the Shayatin.
And I seek refuge with You, My Lord! lest they should come near me." ) ( 23:96-98 ) وَمِنْ ءَايَـتِهِ الَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لاَ تَسْجُدُواْ لِلشَّمْسِ وَلاَ لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ - فَإِنِ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ فَالَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ يُسَبِّحُونَ لَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَهُمْ لاَ يَسْـَمُونَ

(41:36) And if you are prompted by a provocation from Satan, seek refuge with Allah. *40 He, and He alone, is All-Hearing, All- Knowing. *41

And if there comes to you from meaning

*40) Satan feels grieved when he sees that in the conflict between the Truth and falsehood meanness is being resisted with nobility and evil with goodness.
He wants that he should somehow incite the fighters for the sake of the Truth and their prominent men in particular, and especially their leaders, to commit such a mistake, even if once, on the basis of which he may tell the common people that evil is not being committed by one side only: if mean acts are being committed by one side, the people of the other side also are not morally any better: they too have committed such and such a shameless act.
The common people do not have the capability that they may assess and counterbalance fairly the excesses being committed by one party by the reactions of the other.
As long as they sec that while the opponents ate adopting every mean act yet these people do not swerve at All from the path of decency and nobility, goodness and righteousness, they continue to regard and esteem them highly.
But if at some time they happen to commit an unworthy act, even if it is in retaliation against a grave injustice, both the sides become equal in their esteem, and the opponents also get an excuse to counter one blameable act with a thousand abuses.
That is why it has been said: 'Be on your guard against the deceptions of Satan.
He will incite you as a wellwisher to take note of every abuse and every insult and attack and urge you to pay the opponent in the same coin, otherwise you would be regarded as a coward and weaken your image of strength.
" On every such occasion whenever you feel any undue provocation, you should take care that this is an incitement of Satan who is arousing you to anger and wants you to commit a mistake.
And after having been warned do not be involved in the misunderstanding that you have full control over yourself, and Satan cannot make you commit any mistake.
This high opinion of ones own power of judgement and will is another and more dangerous deception of Satan.
Instead of it you should seek Allah's refuge, for man can save himself from mistakes only if Allah helps and grants him protection.
The beat commentary of this subject is the event which Imam Ahmad has related in his Musnad on the authority of Hadrat Abu Hurairah.
He says that once a man started uttering invectives against Hadrat Abu Bakr, in the presence of the Holy Prophet.
Hadrat Abu Bakr kept on hearing the invectives quietly and the Holy Prophet kept on smiling at it.
At last, whcn Hadrat Abu Bakr could restrain himself no longer, he also uttered a harsh word for the person in response.
No sooner did he utter the word than the Holy Prophet was seized by restraint, which appeared on his face, and he rose and left the place immediately.
Hadrat Abu Bakr also rose and went behind him.
On the way he asked, 'How is it that as long as the person went on abusing me, you kept quiet and smiling, but whcn I also said a word in retaliation, you were annoyed " The Holy Prophet replied, " Until you were quiet an angel remained with you, who went on replying to him on your behalf, but when you spoke out Satan came in place of the angel: I could not sit with Satan.
"
*41) After seeking Allah's refuge against the storm of opposition, the thing that brings patience and peace and tranquillity to the heart of the believer is this conviction: " Allah is not unaware: He knows whatever we arc doing as well as that which is being done against us.
He is hearing whatever we and our opponents utter and watches the conduct of both of us. " On the basis of this very conviction the believer entrusts his own and the opponents of the truth's affair to Allah and remains satisfied.
' This is the fifth place where the Holy Prophet and, through him, the believers have been taught this wisdom of preaching and reforming the people.
For the other four places, see AI-A'raf: 199-204, An-Nahl: 125-128, Al Mu'minun: 96-98, Al-'Ankabut: 46-47 and the E.N.'s.

 

The Virtue of calling Others to Allah وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلاً مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى اللَّهِ ( And who is better in speech than he who invites to Allah, ) means, he calls the servants of Allah to Him. وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحاً وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ( and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims." ) means, he himself follows that which he says, so it benefits him as well as others.
He is not one of those who enjoin good but do not do it themselves, or who forbid evil yet they do it themselves.
He does good and avoids doing evil, and he calls people to their Creator, may He be blessed and exalted.
This is general in meaning and applies to everyone who calls people to what is good and is himself guided by what he says.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ is the foremost among people in this regard, as Muhammad bin Sirin, As-Suddi and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said.
It was also said that what was meant here is the righteous Mu'adhdhin, as it was mentioned in Sahih Muslim: «الْمُؤَذِّنُونَ أَطْوَلُ النَّاسِ أَعْنَاقًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة» ( The Mu'adhdhins will be the ones with the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection. )" In As-Sunan it is reported that the Prophet said: «الْإِمَامُ ضَامِنٌ، وَالْمُؤَذِّنُ مُؤْتَمَنٌ، فَأَرْشَدَ اللهُ الْأَئِمَّةَ وَغَفَرَ لِلْمُؤَذِّنِين» ( The Imam is a guarantor and the Mu'adhdhin is in a position of trust.
May Allah guide the Imams and forgive the Mu'adhdhin. )" The correct view is that the Ayah is general in meaning, and includes the Mu'adhdhin and others.
When this Ayah was revealed, the Adhan had not been prescribed at all.
The Ayah was revealed in Makkah, and the Adhan was prescribed in Al-Madinah after the Hijrah, when it was shown to `Abdullah bin `Abd Rabbihi Al-Ansari in a dream.
He told the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it, and he told him to teach it to Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, who had a more beautiful voice, as we have discussed elsewhere.
So the correct view is that the Ayah is general in meaning, as `Abdur-Razzaq said, narrating from Ma`mar, from Al-Hasan Al-Basri, who recited this Ayah: وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلاً مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحاً وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ( And who is better in speech than he who invites to Allah, and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims." ) and said, "This is the beloved of Allah, this is the close friend of Allah, this is the chosen one of Allah, this is the most beloved of the all the people of earth to Allah.
He responded to the call of Allah and called mankind to that to which he had responded.
He did righteous deeds in response and said, `I am one of the Muslims.' This is Allah's Khalifah." Wisdom in Da`wah etc وَلاَ تَسْتَوِى الْحَسَنَةُ وَلاَ السَّيِّئَةُ ( The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. ) means, there is a huge difference between them. ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ( Repel (the evil ) with one which is better,) means, `when someone does you wrong, repel him by treating him well,' as `Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "There is no better punishment for one who has disobeyed Allah with regard to you, than your obeying Allah with regard to him." فَإِذَا الَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ ( then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become ) as though he was a close friend.) means, `if you treat well those who treat you badly, this good deed will lead to reconciliation, love and empathy, and it will be as if he is a close friend to you and he will feel pity for you and be kind to you.' Then Allah says: وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ ( But none is granted it except those who are patient ) meaning, no one accepts this advice and works according to it, except for those who can be patient in doing so, for it is difficult for people to do. وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَآ إِلاَّ ذُو حَظِّ عَظِيمٍ ( and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion ) means, the one who has a great portion of happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas explained this Ayah: "Allah commands the believers to be patient when they feel angry, to be forbearing when confronted with ignorance, and to forgive when they are mistreated.
If they do this, Allah will save them from the Shaytan and subdue their enemies to them until they become like close friends." وَإِمَّا يَنَزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَـنِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ( And if an evil whisper from Shaytan tries to turn you away, then seek refuge in Allah. ) means, the devils among men may be deceived by your kind treatment of him, but the devils among the Jinn, when they insinuate their evil whispers, cannot be dealt with except by seeking refuge with the Creator Who gave him power over you.
If you seek refuge with Allah and turn to Him, He will stop him from harming you and bring his efforts to naught.
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up to pray, he would say: «أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ السَّمِيعِ الْعَلِيمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ، مِنْ هَمْزِهِ وَنَفْخِهِ وَنَفْثِه» ( I seek refuge in Allah the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, from the accursed Shaytan and his evil insinuations, breath and impurity. )" We have already stated that there is nothing like this in the Qur'an, apart from the passage in Surat Al-A`raf, where Allah says: خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِض عَنِ الْجَـهِلِينَ - وَإِمَّا يَنَزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَـنِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ( Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish.
And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytan, then seek refuge with Allah.
Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower. ) ( 7:199-200 ) and the passage in Surat Al-Mu'minun where Allah says: ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ - وَقُلْ رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيـطِينِ - وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ ( Repel evil with that which is better.
We are Best-Acquainted with the things they utter.
And say: "My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the whisperings of the Shayatin.
And I seek refuge with You, My Lord! lest they should come near me." ) ( 23:96-98 ) وَمِنْ ءَايَـتِهِ الَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لاَ تَسْجُدُواْ لِلشَّمْسِ وَلاَ لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ - فَإِنِ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ فَالَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ يُسَبِّحُونَ لَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَهُمْ لاَ يَسْـَمُونَ

( And if a whisper from the devil reach thee (O Muhammad )) and if a whisper from the devil reaches you, you should reciprocate Abu Jahl’s harshness with harshness like it ( then seek refuge in Allah ) from the accursed devil. ( Lo! He is the Hearer ) of what Abu Jahl says, ( the Knower ) of his punishment; it is also said that this means: He is the Hearer of your seeking refuge in Him, the Knower of the whispering of the devil.

And if an evil whisper from Shaitan (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad SAW) (from doing good, etc.), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

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