4. Sura an-Nissa, Medina 92

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذَا حُيِّيْتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّواْ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا...   

4:86. When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, (at least) of equal courtesy.

... إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبًا ﴿٨٦﴾

Allah takes careful account of all things.

Others Version:

4: 86

Asad But when you are greeted with a greeting [of peace], answear with an even better greeting, or [at least] with the like thereof. Verily, God keeps count indeed of all things.

Pickthall When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better than it or return it. Lo! Allah taketh count of all things.

Wa iza_ huyyitum bi tahiyyatin fa hayyu_ bi ahsana minha_ au ruddu_ha_, innalla_ha 'ala_ kulli syai'in hasiba_(n).

************************************************

[[ Ruby’s comment – Even though the context of this verse is war, I believe the application of this injunction is timeless. ]]

[[Ali’s note - C605. The necessary correlative to the command to fight in a good cause is the command to cultivate sweetness and cordiality in our manners at all times. For fighting is an exceptional necessity while the sweetness of daily human intercourse is a normal need.

Further, we give kindness and courtesy without asking, and return it if possible in even better terms than we received, or at least in equally courteous terms. For we are all creatures of One God, and shall be brought together before Him.

[[ Asad’s note - 105 Lit., "greet with better than it, or return it". In the above context, this obviously refers to an offer of peace by people with whom the believers are at war as well as to individual persons who, while possibly belonging to the enemy, have, to all outward appearances, peaceful intentions. In accordance with the injunctions, "if they incline to peace, incline thou to it as well" (8:61), and "if they desist (from fighting), then all hostility shall cease" (2: 1 93), the believers are obliged to make peace with an enemy who makes it clear that he wants to come to an equitable understanding; similarly, they must show every consideration to individual persons from among the enemies who do not actively participate in the hostilities

(see also verse 94 of this surah). ]]