34وَلا تَستَوِي الحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ادفَع بِالَّتي هِيَ أَحسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذي بَينَكَ وَبَينَهُ عَداوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَميمٌMuhammad AsadBut [since] good and evil cannot be equal, repel thou [evil] with something that is better1 - and lo! he between whom and thyself was enmity [may then become] as though he had [always] been close [unto thee], a true friend!See note 44 on 13:22. In the present instance, the injunction to "repel [evil] with something that is better" relates to scurrilous objections to, and hostile criticism of, the Qur'an. The whole of this passage (verses 33 ff.) connects with verse 26.