(… قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ ) (Kind speech …): A good word is much better than charity followed by harm if you give the needy a charity and follow it by harm and reminder. That’s why Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:

“Guard yourself against the fire of Hell even with only with half a date; and if you cannot afford even that, you should at least say a good word[1].”

So M’aruf (the good) is the opposite of Munkar (the evil) because good is what people are familiar with and accustomed to, whereas evil is what the human soul denies. Moreover, A good word might be like a medicine treating people and is better than a charity followed by harm and reminder.

(… وَمَغْفِرَةٌ …) (…and forgiveness …): What’s the relevance of forgiveness here? Islam spreads values. This means that even good words or forgiveness are good deeds.

 {أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ}

(Would you not like that Allah should forgive you?) (An-Noor: 22)

(… وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ …) (…And Allah is Free of need …): The Almighty is free of need. He asks you to spend on his creatures, and He is the one who created and called everyone. So, He needs no one, and then, you deal with the One who is free of need. Prophet Muhammad said:

“spend it, Bilal, and don’t fear poverty from the lord of the throne[2].”

( حَلِيمٌ … ) (…Forbearing): Means that Allah (swt) gives respite but never neglects.

[1] Hadith no. 5677, The Book of Good Manners -(Al-Adab), Sahih al-Bukhari.

[2] Hadith no. Abdullah Bin Masoud Al-Hathli, Ain Vol. Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer, At-Tabarani