17: 53 [al-Israa, Mecca 50 ]

The Quranic text and Ali’s versio

وَقُل لِّعِبَادِي يَقُولُواْ الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ...   

17:53.  Say to My servants that they should (only) say those things that are best:

C2238. This command refers to two situations.

-        Even to your enemies and the enemies of Allah you should speak fair:

who are you to judge others?

Judgment belongs to Allah alone, for He knows you (i.e., all mankind) best, and your personal knowledge is at best imperfect. And Satan is always trying to divide mankind.

-        Amongst yourselves, also you should not entertain suspicions, but speak politely according to the best standards of human speech. A false or unkind word may destroy all your efforts at building up unity, because the forces of disruption are more numerous than the forces of unity.

...إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ...

for Satan doth sow dissensions among them:

...إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ لِلإِنْسَانِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا ﴿٥٣﴾

for Satan is to man an avowed enemy.

Transliteration Wa qul li'iba_di yaqu_lul lati hiya ahsan(u), innasy syaita_na yanzagu bainahum , innasy syaita_na ka_na lil insa_ni 'aduwwam mubina_(n).

Asad And tell My servants that they should speak in the most kindly manner [unto those who do not share their beliefs]: verily, Satan is always ready to stir up discord between men – for, verly, Satan is man’s open foe!

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.

[Ali’s note: 2238 This command refers to two situations. (1) Even to your enemies and the enemies of Allah you should speak fair: who are you to judge others? Judgment belongs to Allah alone, for He knows you (i.e., all mankind) best, and your personal knowledge is at best imperfect. And Satan is always trying to divide mankind. (2) Amongst yourselves, also you should not entertain suspicions, but speak politely according to the best standards of human speech. A false or unkind word may destroy all your efforts at building up unity, because the forces of disruption are more numerous than the forces of unity. (17.53)