Hisbah (Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil) (4/4)

In fact, these are traits of the Muslim Ummah which no-one can claim will cease to exist, even though it is deprived of political authority. The fact that the reins of power have not been in the hands of the Muslim Ummah for a long period of time is no excuse to abandon enjoining people to do good and forbidding them to do evil. Indeed, to enjoin virtue, forbid vice and believe in Allah are preconditions for the very existence of the Islamic Ummah,

"You are the best Ummah raised for the good of Mankind; you enjoin good and forbid evil and believe in Allah." [Surah Ale-Imran (3), Ayah 110]

As long as the Muslim Ummah continues to exist, its characteristics, including enjoining good and forbidding evil, will remain in existence as well.

Those who actively work for Islam and strive to establish it on earth should take the lead in observing Hisbah. It is not sufficient that they do good and shun evil, but they should additionally enjoin every good and forbid every evil with a view to fulfilling the conditions for prevailing on earth, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says (which means),

"Those [Muslim rulers] who, if we establish them in the land, [they] establish regular prayer and give Zakah, enjoin good and forbid evil." [Surah Al-Hajj (22), Ayah 41]

It is not acceptable to say that they are not supposed to establish regular prayer and pay Zakah until they achieve their dominating status. The same is also true of enjoining good and forbidding evil. It has been related that an Abbassid Caliph once rebuked one of his subjects who set up himself up as a Muhtasib without first seeking his permission. To back up his argument, the Caliph quoted the Qur'anic verse (which means),

"Those [Muslim rulers] who, if we establish them in the land, [they] establish regular prayer and give Zakah, enjoin good and forbid evil." [Surah Al-Hajj (22), Ayah 41]

By this he meant that this is solely the duty of the ruler or to whomever he delegates. The man disputed with him, quoting the verse (which means),

"The believers, men and women, are awliyyaa' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another: they enjoin good and forbid evil." [Surah At-Taubah (9), Ayah 71]

The Caliph marveled at the man's proof and could not add a word. If only those who propagate these false opinions would return to the Truth and keep quiet as the Abbassid Caliph did!

There is no denying that powerful authority is far more capable of effectively enjoining good and forbidding evil than a powerless authority. But this should in no way prevent Muslims from practicing Hisbah in the absence of this powerful authority, as is the case today. Besides, if Muslims are obliged to practice it under the rule of a Muslim ruler even without seeking his permission, they are even more obliged to do so in his absence. No person with true insight would deny that the Qur'anic verses and Ahadeeth commanding us to practice Hisbah are absolute and non-restricted. Indeed, they address all Muslims everywhere and oblige them all within their limits and Allah knows best.

Besides, Hisbah is one of the basic necessities of the Islamic movement which should by no means be abandoned by those who work for Islam, or else their Da'wah will vanish and their endeavors will undoubtedly fail. Perhaps it is appropriate here to reiterate  that  the  Jahiliyyah  around  us  confronts  us  with  various  means  and numerous challenges. That our Shari'ah is complete, all inclusive and incorporates all responses to take up the challenge. Some of these challenges could be combated only by Hisbah; others only through Da’wah; and others only by Jihad. If we dispense with Hisbah, the Jahiliyyah around us will certainly defeat us, for by doing so we will, in fact, abandon one of the weapons which Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) commands us to draw at the appropriate time and place. Every circumstance demands a specific weapon.

Indeed, we cannot but push aside as far as we can, any evil in the way of our Da'wah and enjoin every good that we think is neglected, in accordance with the regulations outlined by Shari'ah and the rulings made by the Ulama. By doing so we endeavour to live, and make people around us live, in an environment best suited for maintaining people's religion and managing their affairs in accordance with the Laws of their Lord. It is also our aim, as we mentioned earlier, to bring people to the worship of their Lord, as this is in itself one of the objectives of those working for Islam; until Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) wills and gives enough support to establish the Caliphate whose role will be to safeguard the religion and to manage the world's affairs in accordance with its rules and regulations.

It is wrong to repeat the claim of some people who say that it is necessary to abandon enjoining good and forbidding evil in order to concentrate our efforts on removing `the biggest evil', by which they mean governing by the laws of Jahiliyyah and establish the 'greatest good' by which they mean governing by the laws of Allah. No-one would dispute the fact that implementing Shari'ah and ruling by it is a virtue that should be realized and that ruling by Jahiliyyah is an evil that should be eradicated.  But  there  are  some  people who  contend that there  is  a  difference between enjoining every good and enjoining the so-called 'greatest good', and between forbidding every evil and forbidding 'the biggest evil', as they term it. If we assume that there really is a difference then this will be only in certain instances and situations and not others, and also for some individuals and not for others. These are matters which, as we have mentioned earlier while discussing the subject of the conflict of good and evil, our scholars have resolved and for which they have set criteria.

To abandon the obligation of Hisbah altogether, however, thinking that by doing so we will save our efforts from being dissipated and focus them on achieving the so- called 'greatest good' and uprooting the so-called 'greatest evil', is an attempt to put reason before Shari'ah. Those who maintain these opinions forget, or pretend to forget, that Allah, He who supports us and establishes our religion for us, is also He who commanded us to practice Hisbah,

"Allah will certainly help those who help His [cause]." [Surah Al-Hajj (22), Ayah 40]

How could we then hope for Allah's assistance to victory when we disobey Him by neglecting this vital duty?  How could we expect His aid when we show indifference and do not feel anger at those who violate the sanctity of those things which Allah has made sacred? Instead, we go along like beasts, `thrusting our fingers in our ears and covering ourselves with our garments,' despite our ability to practice Hisbah, and we still claim that we are striving for something better and more comprehensive as though we were guardians of Allah's religion, confirming or deleting whatever we want. Imam Ash-Shafi'ee said, "Whoever does not feel angry for the sake of Allah, even when he is made so, is virtually a donkey."

Those who see evil being committed and do not attempt to change it despite their ability to do so with no fear of harm, will have their hearts sealed by Allah to such a point that they will come to consider evil as good and good as evil. They will deserve to be cursed by Allah like the Children of Israel,

"Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of David and of Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed [Allah and His Messenger] and used to transgress. They did not to forbid one another from the iniquity which they committed. Evil indeed was what they used to do.” [Surah Al-Ma'idah (5), Ayat 78-79]

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "By Him in whose Hands my soul is, you must either enjoin good and forbid evil and help the sinful to uphold Truth, or Allah will cause your hearts to detest one another or He will curse you as He has cursed them (the Children of Israel)."[1]

It is clear that Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) has instructed us to change every evil, be it great or small. The Arabic word munkar translated here as 'evil' in the Hadeeth "Whoever sees a Munkar must change it,"[2] -is used without the definite article, hence referring to every type of munkar (evil). So do not bother to reply to those who say that it is in the interest of Da'wah to abandon Hisbah. Indeed, we do not do any good for Da'wah except in obeying the commands of Allah who knows best, and who ordered us to practice Hisbah. We either act as we are commanded or we will be striving only to undermine our Da'wah.