Ruh al-Ma'ani on Al-Isra 17:53

Surah Al-Isra 17:53

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ﱰ ﱱ ﱲ ﱳ ﱴ ﱵ ﱶ ﱷ ﱸ ﱹ ﱺ ﱻ ﱼ ﱽ ﱾ ﱿ ﲀ ﲁ

And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy.

{ And say to My servants } Meaning: the believers; the attribution is for the honor of the one attributed.

{ that they should say } When debating with the polytheists, { that which is best }—meaning the word or phrase that is the most excellent—and they should not use harshness with them, like His saying, Exalted is He: { And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best }.

The object of the imperative verb is omitted; meaning: say to them, "Say that which is best." Thus, { they should say } is in the jussive mood because it is the response to the imperative. Al-Akhfash adhered to this view, and because those being addressed are the believers, who hasten to comply with the command of Allah the Exalted and the command of His Messenger (peace be upon him) as soon as it is spoken to them, there is no ambiguity in this jussive construction.

Al-Zajjaj said: "That they should say" is the object, and its jussive state is due to a deleted imperative particle (lam of command); meaning: say to them, "Let them say that which is best..." and so on. Al-Mazini said: It is also the object, but it is a present tense verb treated as a built form because it occupies the position of a built form, which is the imperative verb; the meaning being: say to My servants, "Say that which is best." And this is as you see. The object of "they should say" is { that }, and if by it the word is intended, it is taken in its sense inclusive of speech.

{ Indeed, Satan induces [evil] between them } Meaning: he corrupts and stirs up evil between the believers and the polytheists through harshness, for perhaps that may lead to the confirmation of obstinacy and the prolongation of corruption. Thus, the sentence is a justification for the preceding command. Talha read it as yanzigu with a kasra on the za'; Abu Hatim said: "Perhaps it is a dialect," while the [standard] reading is with a fatha. The author of al-Lawamih said: The fatha and the kasra are two dialects, like yamnahu and yamnihu.

{ Indeed, Satan has ever been to mankind a clear enemy } Meaning: manifest in his enmity. Thus, it is from abana in its intransitive sense. The sentence is a justification for what preceded: that Satan induces [evil] between them.

Tafsir of Al-Isra 17:53

Ruh al-Ma'ani

{ And say to My servants } Meaning: the believers; the attribution is for the honor of the one attributed.

{ Indeed, Satan has ever been to mankind a clear enemy } Meaning: manifest in his enmity. Thus, it is from *abana* in its intransitive sense. The sentence is a justification for what preceded: that Satan induces [evil] between them.

{ Indeed, Satan has ever been to mankind a clear enemy } Meaning: manifest in his enmity. Thus, it is from abana in its intransitive sense. The sentence is a justification for what preceded: that Satan induces [evil] between them.