Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
Surat Al-Imran, Verse 110 means: [You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah].
Dear brothers, Among the obligations that Allah has ordained upon us is enjoining good and forbidding evil, guiding people to goodness and warning them against what harms them in their religion and worldly matters. Out of His grace and mercy, Allah has appointed leaders in this Ummah who have safeguarded the boundaries of the Shari^ah and preserved the rulings of the religion, enjoining good and forbidding evil.
How great an honour it is for us to be among those who enjoin good and forbid evil. Many verses in the Qur’an emphasise enjoining good and forbidding evil, often linking it with faith in Allah, establishing prayer, and giving charity. Surat At-Tawbah, Verse 71 means: [The believing men and believing women are supporters of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those – Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Wise].
Surat Al-^Imran, Verse 104 means: [And let there be [arising] from you a group inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. Such are those who are successful].
As for the characteristics of non-believers who openly display their misguidance or who show faith but secretly harbour disbelief, it is the opposite. Surat At-Tawbah, Verse 67 means: [The hypocrites, men and women, are all alike. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right].
Thus, it becomes clear that enjoining good and forbidding evil is a trait of the righteous. It is a task intended for reform and righteousness, not for revenge and scandal. Whoever sincerely performs this task for the sake of Allah will be greatly rewarded, while those whose intentions differ have deviated from the path of truth. The sincere cannot be compared with others, just as darkness cannot be compared with light. Those who do not seek the acceptance of Allah will not find the impact and acceptance that Allah grants to the sincere. Therefore, a preacher must intend to be accepted by Allah. If Allah brings good through his efforts and guides people, that is the ultimate goal. In the Book of Zuhd and Raqa’iq by ^Abdullah Ibn al-Mubarak, it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to Mu^adh Ibn Jabal when he sent him to Yemen to teach people: << If Allah guides a single person through you, it is better for you than the whole world and whatever is in it >>.
Striving to guide people is a noble endeavour, indeed it is the work of the honourable prophets, peace be upon them, and whoever Allah grants success in following the path of the prophets. Given that evils have increased and spread in our lands and our times, enjoining good and forbidding evil is essential to reduce widespread evils such as backbiting, slander, false accusations, unjustly consuming people’s wealth, neglecting prayer, not paying zakah when due, not fasting without excuse, failing to fulfill the rights of spouses, children, parents, and neighbours. We see disobedience, severing family ties, the disintegration of families, and brothers becoming enemies to the point of fighting and abandoning each other until death over trivial worldly matters. We also witness the spread of bad habits and customs, including boasting about imitating the corrupt in their dress and behaviour, opposing the traditions we inherited from our righteous predecessors. All these are destructive diseases afflicting the nation and its people.
Moreover, a great evil that has become widespread is issuing fatwas without knowledge and criticizing eminent Imams. We now see those who judge Abu Hanifah and Ash-Shafi^iyy as mistaken to support their opinions, which ignorant outcasts admire, thinking them correct. This results in division and fragmentation, especially with the increased opposition to the people of truth in beliefs and rulings. Our society now has those who liken Allah to His creation. They object to those who exalt Allah and clear him of place, direction, and physical form, believing that the Creator has bodily attributes, resides in the sky, and sits on the throne. This is exactly what the Jews said when they claimed that Allah created the heavens and the earth in six days and then rested on the seventh day on the Throne. Allah refuted them in the Qur’an. Surat Qaf, verse 38 means: [Indeed, We [Allah] Created the Heavens, the Earth and all between them in six days without tiredness].
Given the severity of these dangers, the reality we witness necessitates exerting efforts in enjoining good and forbidding evil. We are all required to protect our families, communities, and lands from the heinous epidemics that atheists and criminals seek to spread in our Islamic society by deceiving some of the ignorant who do not understand the religion or know the Shari^ah, aiming to corrupt the Ummah from within, which is one of the gravest dangers. If we remain silent, we will be afflicted with disgrace and humiliation. If we strive as much as we can, for Allah does not burden a self beyond its capacity, we will be in great good. An-Nu^man Ibn Bashir (may Allah reward him greatly) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: <<The example of those who observe the limits set by Allah and those who transgress them is like the example of those who draw lots for seats on a ship. Some of them get seats in the upper deck, and some in the lower. When those in the lower deck need water, they would go to the upper deck and say, “Let us make a hole in our part of the ship to get water and not bother those above us”. If they were to leave them to do what they want, they would all be destroyed, but if they restrain them, they would all be saved>>.
Therefore, no one should say in such circumstances, “What have I to do with others? Let them do what they want.” Calling to the religion of Allah, enjoining good, and forbidding evil is not just the job of the scholars. Paradise is not exclusively for those with Al-Azhar degrees or those holding diplomas in Shari^ah sciences. The Shari^ah was not revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to be implemented only by the Companions. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: <<Each of you is responsible in a certain way and will be questioned about his responsibility.>> He also said: <<Convey from me even an ayah (verse).”
The scholar, the doctor, the farmer, and the tradesman all share the responsibility of enjoining good and forbidding evil. It is narrated by Muslim that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: <<Whoever amongst you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the least a believer may do>>.
