Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Isra Verse 53

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Tell My servants that they should speak that which is best. Surely, Satan creates discord among them. Indeed, Satan is an open enemy to mankind.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Tell My ˹believing˺ servants to say only what is best. Satan certainly seeks to sow discord among them. Satan is indeed a sworn enemy to humankind.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Tell My slaves that they should say what is best, for Satan sows discord among them. Indeed, Satan is a sworn enemy to mankind.

A. J. Arberry

And say to My servants, that they say words that are kindlier. For surely Satan provokes strife between them, and Satan is ever a manifest foe to man.

Abdul Haleem

[Prophet], tell My servants to say what is best. Satan sows discord among them: Satan is a sworn enemy of man.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Say thou unto My bondmen that they should say that which is best, Verily the Satan would stir up strife between them; verily the Satan is unto men ever an enemy manifest.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Say to My servants that they should (only) say those things that are best; for Satan doth sow dissensions among them; For Satan is to man an avowed enemy.

Abul Ala Maududi

Tell My servants, (O Muhammad), to say always that which is best. Verily it is Satan who sows discord among people. Satan indeed is an open enemy to mankind.

Ahmed Ali

Tell My creatures only to speak words that are good. Verily Satan sows dissensions: Satan is indeed the acknowledged enemy of mankind.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And tell My bondmen to speak that which is the best; undoubtedly Satan sows discord among them; indeed Satan is man’s open enemy.

Ali Quli Qarai

Tell My servants to speak in a manner which is the best. Indeed Satan incites ill feeling between them, and Satan is indeed man’s manifest enemy.

Ali Ünal

And say to My servants that they should always speak (even when disputing with others) that which is the best. Satan is ever ready to sow discord among them. For Satan indeed is a manifest enemy for humankind.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And say to My servants that they should speak only what is gracious, for satan (is keen to) provoke discord among them. Satan indeed is an enemy to the people, disuniting (one another).

English Literal

And say to My worshippers/slaves, they (should) say which it is best , that the devil spoils/urges to evil between them, that the devil was/is to the human/mankind (a) clear/evident enemy.

Faridul Haque

And tell My bondmen to speak that which is the best; undoubtedly Satan sows discord among them; indeed Satan is man’s open enemy.

Hamid S. Aziz

And tell My servants to speak only that which is best (kindly, reasonably, truthfully, beautifully, usefully to enemy, friend and relative). Truly, Satan does sow dissension (or ill will) among them, for Satan is ever unto man an open foe.

Hilali & Khan

And say to My slaves (i.e. the true believers of Islamic Monotheism) that they should (only) say those words that are the best. (Because) Shaitan (Satan) verily, sows disagreements among them. Surely, Shaitan (Satan) is to man a plain enemy.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

On the day when he will call you forth, then will you obey Him, giving Him praise, and you will think that you tarried but a little (while).

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And say to My servants (that) they speak that which is best; surely the Shaitan sows dissensions among them; surely the Shaitan is an open enemy to man.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Tell My bondmen to speak that which is kindlier. Lo! the devil soweth discord among them. Lo! the devil is for man an open foe.

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), tell My servants to say what is best. Satan sows dissension among them; he is the sworn enemy of human beings.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Tell My worshipers, that they should say words that are the finest, satan would arouse discord among them; he is the clear enemy of mankind.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And say to My servants that they should say those words that are best. (Because) Shaytan verily, sows a state of conflict and disagreement among them. Surely, Shaytan is to man a plain enemy.

Wahiduddin Khan

Tell My servants that they should always say what is best. Satan stirs up discord among them. Surely, Satan is an outright enemy to man.

Talal Itani

Tell My servants to say what is best. Satan sows discord among them. Satan is to man an open enemy.

Tafsir jalalayn

And tell My servants, the believers, to speak, to disbelievers, that, word, which is finer. For Satan indeed incites ill feeling, he makes trouble, between them, and Satan is indeed man's manifest enemy, his enmity is evident. The `finer word' is [to say] this;

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

People should speak Good Words with Politeness

Allah commands;

وَقُل لِّعِبَادِي يَقُولُواْ الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ لِلِنْسَانِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا



And say to My servants that they should say those words that are best. (Because) Shaytan verily, sows a state of conflict and disagreement among them. Surely, Shaytan is to man a plain enemy.

Allah commands His servant Muhammad to tell the believing servants of Allah that they should address one another in their conversations and discussions with the best and politest of words, for if they do not do that, Shaytan will sow discord among them, and words will lead to actions, so that evil and conflicts and fights will arise among them. For Shaytan is the enemy of Adam and his descendants, and has been since he refused to prostrate to Adam. His enmity is obvious and manifest. For this reason it is forbidden for a man to point at his Muslim brother with an iron instrument, for Shaytan may cause him to strike him with it.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said;

"The Messenger of Allah said;

لَاا يُشِيرَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى أَخِيهِ بِالسِّلَاحِ فَإِنَّهُ لَاا يَدْرِي أَحَدُكُمْ لَعَلَّ الشَّيْطَانَ أَنْ يَنْزِعَ فِي يَدِهِ فَيَقَعَ فِي حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّار

No one of you should point at his brother with a weapon, for he does not know whether Shaytan will cause him to strike him with it and thus be thrown into a pit of Fire.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded this Hadith with the chain of narration from Abdur-Razzaq