Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (199) Surah: Al-A‘rāf
خُذِ ٱلۡعَفۡوَ وَأۡمُرۡ بِٱلۡعُرۡفِ وَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ ٱلۡجَٰهِلِينَ
(199) [1855]Accept ˹Muhammad˺ whatever is bearable[1856], enjoin what is acceptable[1857] and turn away from the ignorant[1858].
[1855] In this penultimate passage, the Messenger (ﷺ) is being directed to the best course of action to take after the many digressions, transgressions, aberrations and deviations of the stubbornly Denying have been exposed and expounded on. The Messenger (ﷺ) and the Believers around him are told to carry on with their mission of calling people to the Path of God and overlook whatever lack of regard and respect that might come their way (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[1856] al-ʿAfw is the bottom-line acceptable and good of people’s manners and behaviour. In the face of this all round belligerence and scorn, the Messenger (ﷺ) is told to accept whatever little he might be afforded of bearable behaviour (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Wajīz, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī): “And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel ˹bad˺ by that ˹deed˺ which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity ˹will become˺ as though he was a devoted friend, *but no one will be granted it ˹such goodness˺ except those who exercise patience and self-restraint; no one is granted it save those who are truly fortunate” (41: 34-35).
[1857] al-ʿUrf is what is accepted and condoned of by sound human nature and is ratified by Divine law (cf. al-Baghawī, al-Qurṭubī, al-Shawkānī, al-Saʿdī).
[1858] This means to turn a blind eye and pretend to take no notice of abuse and slander (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Saʿdī, al-Shinqīṭī, al-ʿAdhb al-Namīr): “The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk humbly upon the Earth, and when the ignorant address them, say: “Peace”” (25: 63); “When they hear slanderous talk, they turn away from it, saying: “We are accountable for our deeds and you for yours. Peace to you! We want nothing to do with those who act ignorantly”” (28: 55).
[1856] al-ʿAfw is the bottom-line acceptable and good of people’s manners and behaviour. In the face of this all round belligerence and scorn, the Messenger (ﷺ) is told to accept whatever little he might be afforded of bearable behaviour (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Wajīz, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī): “And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel ˹bad˺ by that ˹deed˺ which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity ˹will become˺ as though he was a devoted friend, *but no one will be granted it ˹such goodness˺ except those who exercise patience and self-restraint; no one is granted it save those who are truly fortunate” (41: 34-35).
[1857] al-ʿUrf is what is accepted and condoned of by sound human nature and is ratified by Divine law (cf. al-Baghawī, al-Qurṭubī, al-Shawkānī, al-Saʿdī).
[1858] This means to turn a blind eye and pretend to take no notice of abuse and slander (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Saʿdī, al-Shinqīṭī, al-ʿAdhb al-Namīr): “The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk humbly upon the Earth, and when the ignorant address them, say: “Peace”” (25: 63); “When they hear slanderous talk, they turn away from it, saying: “We are accountable for our deeds and you for yours. Peace to you! We want nothing to do with those who act ignorantly”” (28: 55).
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (199) Surah: Al-A‘rāf
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into English - in progress - translated by Dr. Walid Bleihesh Al-Omari.