- “And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth with humility, and when the ignorant address them, they speak words of peace” (25:63) … to the end of the surah.
• Servitude to Allah is of two kinds:
• Servitude to His lordship and dominion. All created beings share in this, both Muslim and unbeliever; every one of them is a servant governed and managed by Allah.
• Servitude to His godhood and mercy. This is the servitude of His prophets and His close allies, and it is what is intended here. For that reason He linked it to His Name “the Most Merciful,” pointing out that they reached this station only through His mercy, gentleness, and grace. He then mentioned their qualities—qualities of the highest order—and whoever adorns himself with them truly realizes this special, beneficial servitude that yields eternal happiness.
• He described them as “they walk upon the earth gently,” that is, calmly and humbly before Allah and before people—a depiction of dignity, composure, and modesty toward Allah and His servants.
• “And when the ignorant address them,” meaning with ignorant speech—He attributed the address to that very quality—
• “they say words of peace,” that is, they respond in a manner free of sin and do not repay ignorance with ignorance. This praises them for their composure, tremendous forbearance, pardon of the ignorant, and repaying ill conduct with kindness.
• “And those who spend the night before their Lord, prostrating and standing” (25:64). They devote much of the night to prayer, sincere to their Lord and humble before Him, just as Allah says: “Their sides forsake their beds as they call upon their Lord in fear and hope …” (32:16).