Tafseer of Explained in detail · Fussilat · 41:33
And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims."
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the saying of the Exalted: En wie is beter in woord dan hij die oproept tot Allah en goede werken verricht en zegt: Voorwaar, ik behoor tot hen die zich overgeven (al-muslimūn) (41:33)
The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: and who, O people, is better in word than he who says: our Lord is Allah, and who then remains steadfast in the belief in Him, in adhering to His command and His prohibition, and who calls the servants of Allah to that which he has said and has acted upon.
And in accordance with what we have said about this, the exegetes have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Muḥammad ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, who said: al-Ḥasan recited: ( En wie is beter in woord dan hij die oproept tot Allah en goede werken verricht en zegt: Voorwaar, ik behoor tot hen die zich overgeven ) he said: this is the beloved of Allah, this is the friend (walī) of Allah, this is the chosen one of Allah, this is the elect of Allah, this is the most beloved of creatures to Allah; he has answered Allah in His call, and has called the people to that in which he answered Allah of His call, and he has acted well in his answering, and has said: verily, I belong to those who submit — this one, then, is the vicegerent (khalīfa) of Allah.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His saying: ( En wie is beter in woord dan hij die oproept tot Allah )... the verse, he said: this is a servant whose deed has confirmed his word, and whose going out accords with his coming in, and whose openness with his secret, and whose presence with his absence; and verily, the hypocrite (munāfiq) is a servant whose deed contradicts his word, and whose going out with his coming in, and whose openness with his secret, and whose presence with his absence.
And the people of knowledge differed about who among the people was intended by this description. Some of them said: by it was meant the Prophet of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
* Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Aḥmad related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī: ( En wie is beter in woord dan hij die oproept tot Allah ) he said: Muḥammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he called to Islam.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said, concerning His saying: ( En wie is beter in woord dan hij die oproept tot Allah en goede werken verricht en zegt: Voorwaar, ik behoor tot hen die zich overgeven ) he said: this is the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. And others said: by it was meant the caller to prayer (muʾadhdhin).
* Mention of who said that:
Dāwūd ibn Sulaymān ibn Yazīd al-Muktib al-Baṣrī related to me, saying: ʿAmr ibn Jarīr al-Bajalī related to us, on the authority of Ismāʿīl ibn Abī Khālid, on the authority of Qays ibn Abī Ḥāzim, concerning the saying of Allah: ( En wie is beter in woord dan hij die oproept tot Allah ) he said: the caller to prayer (muʾadhdhin) ( en goede werken verricht ) he said: the prayer that lies between the adhān and the iqāma.
And His saying: ( en zegt: Voorwaar, ik behoor tot hen die zich overgeven ) He says: and he says: verily, I belong to those who submit themselves to Allah through obedience, and humble themselves before Him through servitude, and abase themselves before Him through belief in His oneness.
