Fathakkir in nafaAAati aththikra (surah Al Ala: 9)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(87:9) So render good counsel if good counsel will avail. *10

Fazakkir in nafa`atizzikraa

*10) Generally, the conunentators take these as two separate sentences. They interpret the first sentence to mean: "We are giving you a simple code of law, which is easy to practise and act upon", and the second sentence to mean: "Admonish the people if admonishing be useful. " but in our opinion, the word "fa-dhakkir" connects the two sentences in meaning, and the theme of the second sentence bears upon the theme of the first sentence. Therefore, we interpret these sentences to mean: "O Prophet! We do not want to put you to any hardship concerning the preaching of Islam by demanding that you should snake the deaf to hear and the blind to see the way, but We have appointed an easy way for you, which is this: Give admonition when you feel that the people are inclined to benefit by it. As to who is inclined to benefit by the admonition and who is not, this you can only know through general preaching. Therefore, you should continue your general preaching, but your object should be to search out those from among the people who will benefit by it and adopt the right way. Such people alone are worthy of your attention and you should pay full attention only to their instruction and training. You need not abandon them and pursue those about whom you find by experience that they are not inclined to accept any admonition." Almost this very theme has been expressed in Surah 'Abasa in another way, thus: "As for him who is indifferent, to him you attend, though you would not be responsible if he does not reform. And the one who comes to you running, of his own will and fears, from him you turn away. By no means: This is but an Admonition. Let him who wills, accept it." (vv. 5-12).