Enjoining good and forbidding evil

All praise be to Allah and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, (peace be upon him). I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger."

One of the best actions and the more beloved to Allah is enjoining good and forbidding evil." Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), and you believe in Allâh. And had the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have faith, but most of them are Al-Fâsiqûn (disobedient to Allâh and rebellious against Allâh's Command)." [Surat Al `Imran: 110]. `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Whoever likes to be a member of this nation must fulfill this condition." [1]

Imam Al Qurtuby said: "This Ayah contains praising for this nation as long as they abide by enjoining good and forbidding evil, however if they abandon this and agree with one another to commit evil, praise is removed and they shall be condemned, and that shall be the cause of their destruction." [2]

Allah (Glory be to Him) informed the people that the survivals of the past nations are those who were enjoining good and forbidding evil. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And your Lord would never destroy the towns wrongfully, while their people were right-doers." [Surat Hud: 117].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And ask them (O Muhammad peace be upon him) about the town that was by the sea; when they transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday): when their fish came to them openly on the Sabbath day, and did not come to them on the day they had no Sabbath. Thus We made a trial of them, for they used to rebel against Allah's Command (disobey Allah) [see the Qur'ân: V.4:154 and its footnote]. * And when a community among them said: "Why do you preach to a people whom Allâh is about to destroy or to punish with a severe torment?" (The preachers) said: "In order to be free from guilt before your Lord (Allâh), and perhaps they may fear Allâh." * So when they forgot the remindings that had been given to them, We rescued those who forbade evil, but We seized those who did wrong with a severe torment because they used to rebel against Allah's Command (disobey Allâh). * So when they exceeded the limits of what they were prohibited, We said to them: "Be you monkeys, despised and rejected."" [Surat Al A`raf: 163 - 166].

The story of their aggression on Saturday is that they were forbidden to fish on Saturday, but they plotted to fish by setting their nets of Saturday and collected finsh on Sunday, thereby they thought they escaped sin.

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: They were three parts: One-third forbade that action, one-third said: Why do you admonish a people whom would be perished by Allah? And the last third was those who committed that action, so those who were rescued are the third who forbade, and the third were destroyed.[3]

Allah (Glory be to Him) explained to the people that give up enjoining good and forbidding evil shall incure the wrath and curse of Allah. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dâwûd (David) and 'Isâ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). That was because they disobeyed (Allâh and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bounds. * They used not to forbid one another from Al-Munkar (wrong, evil-doing, sins, polytheism, disbelief) which they committed. Vile indeed was what they used to do." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 78 - 79].

Abu Sa`id Al Khudry (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) He said: "Whoever amongst you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand; if he is unable to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is unable to do so, then with his heart; and that is the weakest form of Faith."[4]

This Hadith is a fundamental in forbidding evil, therefore the people of knowledge counted it as one of the Hadiths that are connected with all fields of religion to the extent they said: It is half of Shari`ah. Others said: It implies the entire concept of Islam because Islam is divided into good that should be enjoined or evil that should be forbidden. Moreover, it contains the stages of forbidding evil which is denial with the hand and tongue which should be done according to the ability and capacity and should not lead to a bigger evil.

The third stage is: Denial by heart which entails leaving the place where evil has been committed.

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Qur'ân) that when you hear the Verses of Allâh being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them. Surely, Allâh will collect the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell." [Surat An-Nisa': 140].

The Shaykh of Islam, Ibn Taymiyah, (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "The one who does not hate what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden: Disbelief, lewdness, and disobedience, he shall not have the faith which Allah commanded him to have."

He also said: "If the entire matters of religion are commands and prohibitions, then all commands which Allah sent His Messenger (peace be upon him) with were enjoining good and prohibitions were forbidding evil, and that is the description of the Prophet and the believers."

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden)." [Surat At-Tawbah: 71]. This is the duty of every able Muslim. It is a collective duty, but it becomes obligatory on every Muslim when no one does it."[5]

If deniable acts spread and nobody changes them, that will be a bad warner and destruction for the nation. Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) once came to her in a state of fear and said, "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. Woe unto the Arabs from a danger that has come near. An opening has been made in the wall of Gog and Magog like this," making a circle with his thumb and index finger. Zaynab bint Jahsh said, "O Allah's Messenger! Shall we be destroyed even though there are pious persons among us?" He said, "Yes, when the evil persons will increase."[6]

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O people, you recite this Ayah: "O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves, If you follow the (right) guidance (and enjoin what is right Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden) no hurt can come to you from those who are in error." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 105]. I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: When the people see oppressors without forbidding him, it is likely that Allah will punish them all." [7]

Ibn Al Qayyim (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "Forbidding evil is of four types: 1- To be removed and replaced by good. 2- To be reduced even if it is entirely rooted out. 3- To be replaced by evil. 4- To be replaced by more evil. So the first and the second types are permissible, the third is open for opinions, and the fourth is forbidden." [8]

Of the bright examples for those who enjoined good and forbade evil is the story which Adh-Dhahaby reported in his book As-Siyar about Shuja` ibn Al Walid who said: I was performing Hajj with Sufyan Ath-Thawry and I always saw him enjoing good and forbidding evil upon going and when returning home.[9]

It was reported from him that he used to say: I see things about which I should speak [enjoin good or forbid evil] but I do not, then I urinate blood.[10]

Adh-Dhahaby reported from Al Hafizh `Abdullah Al Maqdisy that whenever he saw evil, he either changed it with his hand or his tongue, and he never feared anyone but Allah. Once I saw him spelling wine and the wine owner pulled out his sword but he never feared and took it from his hand. [11]

Imam An-Nawawy said: "Know that enjoining good and forbidding evil was abandoned except for few. It is a great rite of Islam, and when evil deeds prevail, punishment prevails good and bad and if the people do not stop the oppressor, it is likely that Allah will punish them all with His Punishment: "And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muhammad peace be upon him) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah — legal ways— orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant) should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them." [Surat An-Nur: 63].

The seeker of the Hereafter and the seeker of Allah's pleasure should pay attention to this great benefit, especially when it is barely abandoned. Allah (may He be Exalted) said: "Verily, Allâh will help those who help His (Cause)." [Surat Hajj: 40]. A person should know that the reward is according to the effort.

A person should not abandon that even with his friends because it is the right of a friend to be advised and guided to his interests of his Hereafter. If you love your friend, you should seek his interest in the Hereafter even you advice would decrease the worldly interest.[12]

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people].

Peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.

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[1] Tafsir Ibn Kathir 1/396.

[2] Al Jami` Li Ahkam Al Qur'an 4/173.

[3] Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 2/259 He said: Its chain of transmission is good.

[4] Sahih Muslim 1/69 No. 49.

[5] Al Fatawa 28/ 65 - 66.

[6] Sahih Al Bukhari 2/458 No. 3346 and Sahih Muslim 4/2208 No. 2880.

[7] Sunan Abu Dawud 4/122 No. 4338.

[8] I`lam Al Muwaqqi`in 3/4, 5.

[9] As-Siyar (biographies) 7/259.

[10] As-Siyar (biographies) 7/259.

[11] As-Siyar (biographies) 21/454.

[12] Commentary of Sahih Muslim of Imam An-Nawawy, 1/24.