24 Preface أَلَم تَرَ كَيفَ ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصلُها ثابِتٌ وَفَرعُها فِي السَّماءِYusuf AliSeest thou not how God sets forth a parable? - A goodly word1 like a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the heavens,- of its Lord. So God sets forth parables for men, in order that they may receive admonition.“Goodly word” is usually interpreted as the Divine Word, the Divine Message, the True Religion. It may also be interpreted in a more general sense as a word of truth, a word of goodness or kindness, which follows from a true appreciation of Religion. For Religion includes our duty to God and our duty to man. The “evil word” is opposite to this: false religion, blasphemy, false speech, or preaching or teaching unkindness and wrongdoing. (R).