The benefit of the saying of Allah the Exalted: "So speak to him with gentle words"
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: Regarding the saying of the Exalted and Majestic[Taha 20:44], he asks: What is the benefit of the verse and what is derived from it? He says: Regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted, "So speak to him with gentle words," what is derived from this verse regarding the style of advising? Is the default that the call (da'wah) is to be with gentleness?
Answer:
Yes, this is the default.[Taha 20:44] Even though he was the most disbelieving of the people of the earth, He says: [An-Nazi'at 79:24] And yet, "So speak to him with gentle words." Why? "Perhaps he will remember or fear." There is no doubt that harsh speech is not to be brought in the call to Allah and started with it. [Al-'Ankabut 29:46], [An-Nahl 16:125]. Yes.
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: Regarding the saying of the Exalted and Majestic
And speak to him with gentle speech
فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًاAnswer:
Yes, this is the default.
And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]."
فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًا لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰI am your most exalted lord."
أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰAnd do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best
وَلَا تُجَادِلُوا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُand argue with them in a way that is best
وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ
Source
شرح إغاثة اللهفان من مصائد الشيطان لابن القيم، فصل في القلب الميت — islamhouse.com (1:18:12)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.