Carefully choosing words

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Allah [The Most High] said:

إِذۡ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعۡبُدُ مَا لَا يَسۡمَعُ وَلَا يُبۡصِرُ وَلَا يُغۡنِى عَنكَ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا

 يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى قَدۡ جَآءَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ مَا لَمۡ يَأۡتِكَ

Remember when he [i.e. Ibrahim, peace be upon him] said to his father: O my father! Why do you worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything? O my father! Verily! There has come to me of knowledge that which came not unto you. [19:42-43]

Imam Sadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: Look at this fine speech that appeals to the hearts?! He did not say to his father, “Indeed, you are a Jahil [an ignorant person]” lest his father is turned away due to rough speech; rather [Allah said that Ibrahim said]:

فَٱتَّبِعۡنِىٓ أَهۡدِكَ صِرَٲطً۬ا سَوِيًّ۬ا

 يَـٰٓأَبَتِ لَا تَعۡبُدِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنَ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنَ كَانَ لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ عَصِيًّ۬ا

 يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يَمَسَّكَ عَذَابٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ فَتَكُونَ لِلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ وَلِيًّ۬ا

So follow me. I will guide you to a Straight Path. “O my father! Worship not Shaitan (Satan). Verily! Shaitan (Satan) has been a rebel against the Most Beneficent (Allah). “O my father! Verily! I fear lest a torment from the Most Beneficent (Allah) overtake you, so that you become a companion of Shaitan(Satan) (in the Hell-fire).” [19:43-45]

Qisas Al-Anbiyaa’ page 45’