Surah Al-Isra Ayat 28 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 28
And if you [must] turn away from the needy awaiting mercy from your Lord which you expect, then speak to them a gentle word.
And even if thou hast to turn away from them in pursuit of the Mercy from thy Lord which thou dost expect, yet speak to them a word of easy kindness.
(v) And when you must turn away from them – (that is, from the destitute, the near of kin, the needy, and the wayfarer) – in pursuit of God’s Mercy which you expect to receive, then speak to them kindly.
And if you (O Muhammad SAW) turn away from them (kindred, poor, wayfarer, etc. whom We have ordered you to give their rights, but if you have no money at the time they ask you for it) and you are awaiting a mercy from your Lord for which you hope, then, speak unto them a soft kind word (i.e. Allah will give me and I shall give you).
But if thou turn away from them, seeking mercy from thy Lord, for which thou hopest, then speak unto them a reasonable word.
And in case ever you definitely veer away from them, seeking mercy from your Lord that you hope for, then speak to them a reasonable saying.
but if, while seeking some bounty that you expect from your Lord, you turn them down, then at least speak some word of comfort to them.
اور اگر تجھے ان سے منھ پھیر لینا پڑے اپنے رب کی اس رحمت کی جستجو میں، جس کی تو امید رکھتا ہے تو بھی تجھے چاہیئے کہ عمدگی اور نرمی سے انہیں سمجھا دے
Quran 17 Verse 28 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Al-Isra ayat 28, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(17:28) (v) And when you must turn away from them – (that is, from the destitute, the near of kin, the needy, and the wayfarer) – in pursuit of God’s Mercy which you expect to receive, then speak to them kindly.[28]
28. These three articles are meant to impress that a man should not reserve his earnings and his wealth exclusively for his own person. He should do his utmost to fulfill his own necessities of life in a moderate way and render the rights of his relatives, neighbors and other needy persons as well. This attitude will help create the spirit of cooperation, sympathy and justice in the collective Islamic life. Thus every relative will cooperate with the other and every rich person will help the needy in his neighborhood and a wayfarer would find himself an honorable guest among generous hosts. The conception of rights should be so extensive that every person should consider that all other human beings have rights on his person and his property so that he should serve them with the idea that he is rendering their rights and is not doing any favor to them. In that case one would beg pardon of the other if he was unable to serve him and would pray to God to send his blessings upon him to enable him to serve His servants.
These articles of the Islamic manifesto were not merely confined to moral teachings but these formed the basis of the commandments of Zakat and voluntary charity. The laws of inheritance and of making will and endowments were based on these articles. The rights of the orphans were determined by these and it was made obligatory on every habitation to entertain a wayfarer gratis for at least three days. Subsequently the whole moral system was formed so as to create the feelings of generosity, sympathy and cooperation. So much so that the people began to realize the importance of and observe voluntarily the moral rights which could neither be demanded legally nor enforced by law.
Ibn-Kathir
The tafsir of Surah Al-Isra verse 28 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Isra ayat 26 which provides the complete commentary from verse 26 through 28.
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