وَاصبِر عَلىٰ ما يَقولونَ وَاهجُرهُم هَجرًا جَميلًا

And be patient over what they say, and keep away from them in a graceful manner.

EXEGESIS

The imperative verb uhjur and the verbal noun hajr used adverbially here, both derive from the same root letters h-j-r, meaning to part company with, to shun, to ignore, and to avoid.^{‎[1]Arabic-English Dictionary of Qur’anic Usage, pp. 979-980.}

Ṭūsī writes that the phrase and keep away from them in a graceful manner means to distance oneself from someone, to turn away from someone, to shun, avoiding and becoming cool towards someone without leaving off counselling them and calling them towards the truth.^{‎[2]Tibyan, 10/164.}

EXPOSITION

There then follow the fourth and fifth commands, which are patience and keeping away from the opponents due to their excessive accusations and ugly treatment of the caller to God. However, this does not mean the complete abandonment of these people and abandoning calling them towards the teachings of God. Rather, this means a benign leaving off, a leaving off that is nevertheless coupled with mercy, affection, concern, and continued calling towards God.^{‎[3]Amthal, 19/137.}

Ṭabrisī writes in the course of his explanation of this verse that in this verse lies the evidence for patience in the face of harassment, harm, and damage to those who call towards religion, along with a call towards social interaction that is done with the best of manners and utilising cordiality so that they may reach their objective, which is a positive response, sooner.^{‎[4]Tabrisi, 10/379.}

INSIGHTS FROM HADITH

Ibn Hishām records that the Prophet used to sit in gatherings, calling people to God, reciting the Quran, and informing them of the destinies of past nations that had rejected the divine teachings of their respective prophets and messengers. When he would leave that gathering, Naḍr ibn Ḥārith would come and sit in his place and recount the legendary stories of Rustam and Alexander and the past Sassanian Kings. He would swear: ‘Certainly, Muhammad does not narrate stories superior or better than mine, and his narrations are nothing but legends.’^{‎[5]Cited in Mafahim, 7/145.}

Qummī narrates from Ḥafṣ ibn Ghiyāth, who reports from Imam al-Ṣādiq (a) as follows. The Imam said to him: ‘O Ḥafṣ, whoever has been patient has been patient little, and whoever has been frightened or been fearful has been frightened a little.’ Then he said: ‘O Ḥafṣ, you must be patient in all your affairs, for God sent Muhammad and ordered him to be patient, kind, and indulgent. He said: and be patient over what they say, and keep away from them in a graceful manner. Leave Me [to deal] with the deniers, the opulent, and give them a little respite. So he was patient to the extent that they slandered and maligned him and accused him of great sins … whoever is patient, considerate, and cautious will not depart from this world till God will have gladdened him in respect of his enemies. This will be apart from what is reserved for him in the hereafter.’^{‎[6]Cited in Daqaiq, 14/504.}

[1] Arabic-English Dictionary of Qur’anic Usage, pp. 979-980.
[2] Tibyan, 10/164.
[3] Amthal, 19/137.
[4] Tabrisi, 10/379.
[5] Cited in Mafahim, 7/145.
[6] Cited in Daqaiq, 14/504.