Transliteration:( Wa izaa sami'ul laghwa a'radoo 'anhu wa qaaloo lanaaa a'maalunaa wa lakum a'maalukum salaamun 'alaikum laa nabtaghil jaahileen )
"And when they hear vain talk they turn away from it [141] and say, 'For us our deeds, and for you your deeds [142]; peace be to you, we seek not the ignorant.' [143]"
The polytheists of Arabia and some People of the Book used to constantly hurl verbal abuse at the believers. But the righteous ones ignored them completely, as if they never heard a word—offering them total indifference. This verse praises that dignified restraint.
The phrase “for you your deeds” does not mean their actions are good—because infidelity and polytheism bring no benefit.
Rather, it means: “Your actions are yours, and ours are ours; each will see the outcome of their own deeds.”
This teaches two important lessons:
One should not argue with every ignorant person. Remain distant and avoid fruitless debate, just as Allah did not respond to the arguments of Satan, but said: “Get out from here!”
The phrase “Peace be to you” here is not a greeting of affection, but one of disapproval and withdrawal—a sarcastic dismissal, meaning: “We do not wish to engage with your ignorance.”
The tafsir of Surah Qasas verse 55 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Qasas ayat 52 which provides the complete commentary from verse 52 through 55.
(28:55) and when they hear any vain talk,[78] they turn away from it, saying: “We have our deeds and you have your deeds. Peace be to you. We do not desire to act like the ignorant.”
78. The reference is to the “vain talk” that Abu Jahl and his men had with the Christians from Habash, as mentioned in (Surah Al-Qasas, ayat 52) note 72 above.
[1112]- This is not the Islāmic greeting of "Peace be upon you." Rather, it means "You are secure from being treated in a like manner by us."
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