The pronoun in the Almighty’s saying: And argue with them

 

Allah says: “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best” [An-Nahl: 125]. To whom does the pronoun in “argue with them” refer?

It refers to those being invited, meaning: invite people to the way of your Lord. The pronoun in “argue with them” refers to those being invited, whether they are Muslims or disbelievers. Similarly, in the verse: “And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best” [Al-Ankabut: 46], the People of the Scripture are the disbelievers among the Jews and Christians. They should not be argued with except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them; the unjust should be treated as they deserve.