Surah An-Nahl 16:125 — translation and meaning

النحل · Verse 125 / 128 · Page 281

ۚ ۖ ۖ ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ

Word by Word

ۚ
ۖ
ۖ
ادْعُ
ud'u
Call
إِلَى
ila
to
سَبِيلِ
sabili
(the) way
رَبِّكَ
rabbika
(of) your Lord
بِالْحِكْمَةِ
bil-hik'mati
with the wisdom
وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ
wal-maw'izati
and the instruction
الْحَسَنَةِ
al-hasanati
the good
وَجَادِلْهُم
wajadil'hum
and discuss with them
بِالَّتِي
bi-allati
in that
هِيَ
hiya
which
أَحْسَنُ
ahsanu
(is) best
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
رَبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
هُوَ
huwa
He
أَعْلَمُ
a'lamu
(is) most knowing
بِمَن
biman
of who
ضَلَّ
dalla
has strayed
عَن
an
from
سَبِيلِهِ
sabilihi
His way
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
And He
أَعْلَمُ
a'lamu
(is) most knowing
بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
bil-muh'tadina
of the guided ones

Transliteration

Ud'u ilaa sabeeli Rabbika bilhikmati walmaw 'izatil hasanati wa jaadilhum billatee hiya ahsan; inna Rabbaka huwa a'almu biman dalla 'an sabeelihee wa Huwa a'lamu bilmuhtadeen

Translation

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.

Verse interpretation (Tafsir)

Invite - O Messenger - to the religion of Islam, you and the believers who follow you, in a manner that is appropriate for the condition, understanding and mindset of the person who you are inviting and with admonition that contains encouragement and caution. Argue with them in the manner that is best in terms of speech, thought and politeness, for it is not your duty to guide people. You are only required to convey the message to them. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from the religion of Islam and He knows best those who are rightly guided to it, so do not lose yourself in grief over them.

Source: Al-Mukhtasar Tafsir — Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies.

100% Free App

Join 50,000+ Muslims

Download for free and never miss a prayer again