Surah 16. An-Nahl

'utterly' grateful for Allah's favours. 'So' He chose him and guided him to the Straight Path.

  - Mustafa Khattab

He showed his gratitude for the favors of Allah Who chose him and guided him to a straight way.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We blessed him with all goodness in this world,¹ and in the Hereafter he will certainly be among the righteous.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., honourable mention and a righteous family.

And We gave him good in this world and he will be in the Hereafter in the ranks of the righteous. ²¹⁵⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. ii. 113.

Then We revealed to you 'O Prophet, saying': 'Follow the faith of Abraham, the upright, who was not one of the polytheists.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

So We have taught thee the inspired (message) "Follow the ways of Abraham the true in faith and he joined not gods with Allah."

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

'Honouring' the Sabbath was ordained only for those who disputed about Abraham.¹ And surely your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Judgment regarding their disputes.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 This verse refers to the Jews who claimed that Abraham was Jewish. See 3:65-68.

The Sabbath was only made (strict) to those who disagreed (as to its observance); but Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgment as to their differences. ^{2159 2160}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If Abraham's Way was the right way, the Jews were ready with the taunt, "Why don't you then observe the Sabbath?" The answer is twofold. (1) The Sabbath has nothing to do with Abraham. It was instituted with the Law of Moses because of Israel's hardness of heart (ii. 74); for they constantly disputed with their Prophet Moses (iii 108), and there were constantly among them afterwards men who broke the Sabbath (ii. 65, and n. 79). (2) Which was the true Sabbath Day? The Jews observe Saturday. The Christians, who include the Old Testament in their inspired Scripture, observe Sunday, and a sect among them (the Seventh Day Adventists) disagree, and observe Saturday. So there is disagreement among the People of the Book. Let them dispute among themselves. Their dispute will not be settled till the Day of Judgment. Meanwhile, Muslims are emancipated from such stringent restrictions. For them there is certainly the Day of United Prayer on Friday, but it is in no sense like the Jewish or the Scotch Sabbath!

Cf. ii. 113.

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.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best who have strayed from His Path and who receive guidance. ^{2161 2162}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In this wonderful passage are laid down principles of religious preaching, which are good for all time. But where are the Teachers with such qualifications? We must invite all to the Way of Allah, and expound His Universal Will; we must do it with wisdom and discretion, meeting people on their own ground and convincing them with illustrations from their own knowledge and experience, which may be very narrow, or very wide. Our preaching must be, not dogmatic, not self-regarding, not offensive, but gentle, considerate, and such as would attract their attention. Our manner and our arguments should not be acrimonious, but modelled on the most courteous and the most gracious example, so that the hearer may say to himself, "This man is not dealing merely with dialectics; he is not trying to get a rise out of me; he is sincerely expounding the faith that is in him, and his motive is the love of man and the love of Allah."

It may be that the Preacher sometimes says to himself, "What is the use of teaching these people? they have made up their minds, or they are obstinate; or they are only trying to catch me out," Let him not yield to such a thought. Who knows how the seed of the Word of Allah may germinate in people's minds? It is not for man to look for results. Man's inner thoughts are known best to Allah.

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.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And if ye do catch them out catch them out no worse than they catch you out: but if ye show patience that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient. ²¹⁶³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In the context this passage refers to controversies and discussions, but the words are wide enough to cover all human struggles, disputes, and fights. In strictest equity you are not entitled to give a worse blow than is given to you. Lest you should think that such patience only gives an advantage to the adversary, you are told that the contrary is the case, the advantage is with the patient, the self-possessed, those who do not lose their temper or forget their own principles of conduct.

Be patient 'O Prophet', for your patience is only with Allah's help. Do not grieve over those 'who disbelieve', nor be distressed by their schemes.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And do thou be patient for thy patience is but from Allah; nor grieve over them: and distress not thyself because of their plots. ²¹⁶⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In the previous verse are laid down the principles of conduct in controversy for all Muslims; 'if you catch them out, you are not entitled to strike a heavier blow than you received, but it is better to restrain yourself and be patient.' There patience was recommended. In this verse a command is directly addressed to the Prophet. 'Do thou be patient.' It is a command: his standard as the Great Teacher is much higher; and he carried out in his life. His patience and self-restraint were under circumstances of extraordinary provocation. In his human wisdom it may sometimes have seemed questionable whether forbearance and self-restraint might not be human weaknesses; he had to defend his people as well as himself against the enemy's persecutions. He is told here that he need not entertain any such fears. Patience (with constancy) in those circumstances was in accordance with Allah's own command. Nor was he to grieve if they rejected Allah's Message; the Prophet had done his duty when he boldly and openly proclaimed it. Nor was his heart to be troubled if they hatched secret plots against himself and his people, Allah would protect them.

Surely Allah is with those who shun evil and who do good 'deeds'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

For Allah is with those who restrain themselves and those who do good. ²¹⁶⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And the Sura ends with the highest consolation which the righteous can receive; the assurance that Allah is with them. A double qualification is indicated for so high an honour,-(1) that they should not yield to human passion or anger or impatience, and (2) that they should go on with constancy doing good all around them. To attain to the Presence of Allah in the sense of "I am with you" is the culmination of the righteous man's aspiration.