Qur’an by topic

Qur’an verses about kindness

Repel evil with what is better, and an enemy can become a devoted friend. Kindness as the Qur’an describes it.

· 7 ayat

Kindness in the Qur’an is concrete: to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, neighbours near and far, and the traveller. It covers speech as well as wealth, since a kind word is called better than charity followed by hurt. And it reaches even an enemy: repel evil with what is better. Each verse is shown in Arabic with the Saheeh International translation and a short note on what it says.

The verses

1. Surah Fussilat (41:34)

وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌۭ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌۭ

And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.

The good deed and the bad are not equal: repel evil with what is better, and the one with enmity may become a devoted friend.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/41/34
2. Surah An-Nahl (16:90)

۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَٰنِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْبَغْىِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.

Allah commands justice, good conduct and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, bad conduct and oppression.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/16/90
3. Surah An-Nisa (4:36)

۞ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًۭٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَٰنًۭا وَبِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلْجَارِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْجَارِ ٱلْجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلْجَنۢبِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًۭا فَخُورًا

Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.

Good treatment is owed to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, neighbours near and far, the companion at your side and the traveller.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/4/36
4. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:83)

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًۭا وَذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَقُولُوا۟ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًۭا وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ

And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], "Do not worship except Allah; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakah." Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.

Part of the covenant with the Children of Israel: speak good words to people.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/2/83
5. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:263)

۞ قَوْلٌۭ مَّعْرُوفٌۭ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌۭ مِّن صَدَقَةٍۢ يَتْبَعُهَآ أَذًۭى ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِىٌّ حَلِيمٌۭ

Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Free of need and Forbearing.

A kind word and forgiveness are better than charity followed by hurt.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/2/263
6. Surah Ali 'Imran (3:134)

ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِى ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلْكَٰظِمِينَ ٱلْغَيْظَ وَٱلْعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allah loves the doers of good;

Those who spend in ease and hardship, restrain anger and pardon people: Allah loves the doers of good.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/3/134
7. Surah Al-Qasas (28:77)

وَٱبْتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِن كَمَآ أَحْسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَلَا تَبْغِ ٱلْفَسَادَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ

But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters."

Advice given to Qarun by his people: do good as Allah has done good to you.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/28/77

Keep going

Niyat's dua library collects source-cited supplications for anxiety, hardship, forgiveness, sleep, and ordinary days.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Qur’an say about kindness?

It commands good treatment of parents, relatives, orphans, the needy and neighbours (4:36), says a kind word is better than charity followed by hurt (2:263), and teaches repelling evil with what is better (41:34).

Which verse says repel evil with good?

Qur’an 41:34: 'Repel evil by that which is better; and the one between you and him is enmity will become as though he was a devoted friend.'

Does Allah love those who restrain their anger?

Qur’an 3:134 praises those who restrain anger and pardon people, and ends 'Allah loves the doers of good.'

Read the full Qur’an with translation and audio in Niyat.

Download Niyat Free Get it on Google Play