ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَـٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ 125
Translations
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.
Transliteration
Ud'u ilá sabīli rabbika bil-hikmati wal-maw'ižati al-hasanati wa jādilhum billati hiya ahsan. Inna rabbaka huwa a'lamu biman dalla 'an sabīlihi wa huwa a'lamu bil-muhtadīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is known as the ayah of du'ah (invitation to Allah's path) and outlines the three methodologies for Islamic da'wah: wisdom (hikmah), good exhortation (maw'ižah hasanah), and argumentation by the best means (jidal bil-lati hiya ahsan). Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that these methods must be adapted to the audience's circumstances, intellect, and receptiveness. The closing clause reminds the caller to Allah that ultimate guidance rests with Allah alone, not with the one making the call, thereby instilling humility and removing despair from the da'i (caller).
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet Muhammad's message, this ayah provides practical guidance for Muslims facing rejection and hostility. It occurs within Surah An-Nahl, which discusses divine signs and favors, establishing da'wah as a continuation of the prophetic mission amid adversity.
Related Hadiths
Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart' (Sahih Muslim 49). Additionally, Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet said: 'Make things easy and do not make them difficult, and give good news and do not make people hate' (Sahih Bukhari 69).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that effective Islamic communication requires adapting one's approach to wisdom, gentle exhortation, and respectful dialogue while maintaining the understanding that true guidance is ultimately from Allah alone—a lesson that encourages both earnest effort and patient acceptance of diverse responses. For modern readers, it emphasizes that spreading Islamic values must prioritize clarity, compassion, and intellectual respect, rejecting harshness or coercion as tools of da'wah.
Related Ayahs
أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ فِى تَقَلُّبِهِمْ فَمَا هُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ
Or that He would not seize them during their [usual] activity, and they could not cause failure [i.e., escape from Him]?
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ يَتَفَيَّؤُا۟ ظِلَـٰلُهُۥ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَٱلشَّمَآئِلِ سُجَّدًا لِّلَّهِ وَهُمْ دَٰخِرُونَ
Have they not considered what things Allāh has created? Their shadows incline to the right and to the left, prostrating to Allāh, while they [i.e., those creations] are humble.
يُنۢبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ ٱلزَّرْعَ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلنَّخِيلَ وَٱلْأَعْنَـٰبَ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
He causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and of all the fruits. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.
ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا فُتِنُوا۟ ثُمَّ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ وَصَبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Then, indeed your Lord, to those who emigrated after they had been compelled [to say words of disbelief] and thereafter fought [for the cause of Allāh] and were patient - indeed, your Lord, after that, is Forgiving and Merciful