Class 2
ENJOINING GOOD FORBIDDING EVIL
VIRTUES | OBLIGATION | RULINGS
Man is very forgetful and makes a lot of mistakes. His own self (nafs) tells him to do evil and the Shaytaan tempts him to commit sin. When bodies get sick and are afflicted with disease, one has to find a doctor who can prescribe the appropriate medicine so that the body may be restored to full health. Similarly, souls and hearts may be afflicted with the diseases of desire and doubt, so people do things which Allah has forbidden, such as shedding blood, committing adultery, drinking alcohol, oppressing people and consuming their wealth unlawfully, preventing people from following the way of Allah and disbelieving in Allah.
The diseases of the heart [psychological and spiritual diseases] are worse than diseases of the body. This means that one must find a doctor who is skilled in treating such diseases. Because the diseases of the heart are so many and cause the spread of evil and corruption, Allah has enjoined the believers to treat these diseases, by enjoining that which is good and forbidding that which is evil. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:104]
Enjoining what is good (al-ma’roof) and forbidding what is evil (al-munkar) is one of the most important Islamic duties, indeed it is the noblest and most sublime. This is the task of the Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them all), as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah after the (coming of) Messengers” [al-Nisaa’ 4:165]
Allah has made the Muslim ummah the best nation ever raised up for mankind, in order to do this important task, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “You (true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:110]
Imam an-Nawawee said, "You should know that this issue, the enjoining good and forbidding evil, has mostly been negelcted over a long period of time. What remains of it today is but a few traces, all despite the fact that it is an important issue which lies at the heart of all affairs."
O my Muslim brothers & Sisters! Enjoining good and forbidding evil is a very important topic worthy of attention, because the interest and salvation of the Ummah (nation based on one creed) lie in undertaking it; whereas, neglecting it causes great danger and corruption because of the disappearance of virtues and the spread of vice.
It is an Obligation
The command in the Qur'an and Sunnah comes in a direct way, as Allah (swt) says in al-Imran ayah 104 quoted above.
In another ayah, Allah 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); they perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give the Zakât, and obey Allâh and His Messenger. Allâh will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (Al-Tawbah: 71)
The order of enjoining good and forbidding evil comes before the order to perform Salah, which is the main foundation of Islam and its greatest pillar second to the two Shahadahs (Testimonies of Faith). So, why was this obligation mentioned first? Indeed, this obligation was mentioned first to illustrate the dire need and necessity for it, because by observing this matter the affairs of the Ummah will be set aright. This also helps goodness prevail, virtues appear and vices disappear in the Ummah. It encourages Muslims to cooperate on goodness, advise one another, fight in the Cause of Allah, do all good deeds and keep away from every evil one. When Muslims stop enjoining good and forbidding evil, there are devastating disasters, evil acts spread, the Ummah disunites and hearts become hardened or even dead.
And we can understand its importance and obligation by reading the ayaahs, where it comes in the form of criticising those who neglect it and as a threat of curse and doom. As Allah (swt) says (which means):
“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.” (Al-Maidah: 79)
“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.” (Al-Maidah: 78-79)
“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); they perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give the Zakât, and obey Allâh and His Messenger. Allâh will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (Al-Tawbah: 71)
And the Prophet ﷺ also said, "Whoever sees an evil (being practiced) must change it with his hand. If he cannot do so, then with his tongue. If he (still) cannot do so, then with his heart, which is the weakest form if faith." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Imam an-Nawawee said, "The Qur'an, the Sunnah and the consensus of the Ummah are in accord that enjoining good and forbidding evil is an [Islamic] obligation."
It is the difference between believers and hypocrites
Allah (swt) said (which means) :
"The hypocrites men and women, are from one onother: they enjoin evil and forbid good." (at-Taubah 9 : 128)
"The believers, men and women, are awliyyaa' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another: they enjoin good and forbid evil". (at-Taubah 9 : 67)
In these verses, Allah (swt) has made the enjoining of good and forbidding of evil a characteristic with which to differentiate between the believers and the hypocrites. He makes it clear that forbidding evil and enjoining good is a trait to the believers. Indeed, it is a characteristic of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which the Qur'an mentions thus: "He enjoins good upon them and forbids them from evil". (at-Taubah 9 : 71)
A precondition to be part of the Ummah
It is also a characteristic of this Ummah and a precondition for its virtue and success: "You are the best of peoples ever raised for mankind; you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and you believe in Allah". (al-A'raf 7 : 157)
Mujahid said, "Being the best of all peoples is conditional in the characteristics mentioned in the verse."
Al-Qurtubi said, "You are the best of peoples only if you enjoin good and forbid evil."
Therefore, this compliment of our Ummah depends on whether we enjoy these two characteristics. If we do not, we will no longer be worthy of this praise.
The ummah which establishes the symbols of Islam, enjoins what is good and forbids what is evil, will attain happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah will send them His support and grant them victory.
Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil is a mission which will never end until the Hour begins. It is obligatory upon all the ummah, rulers and subjects, men and women, each according to his or her circumstances.
The Muslim ummah is one nation, and if corruption becomes widespread in it and its circumstances turn bad, then all the Muslims are obliged to reform it, rid it of evil things, enjoin what is good and forbid what is bad, and offer sincere advice to all. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Deen is Naseeha.”
Warning Against abandoning Enjoining Good & Forbidding Evil
We read above, the ayahs warning against abandoning this great act.
Muslims who neglect enjoining good and forbidding evil hold this corrupted saying as a pretext, "Leave the creation for Allah The Almighty to judge them; I am not responsible for all human beings", and the like.
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“By Him in Whose Hand my life is, you either enjoin good and forbid evil, or Allah will certainly soon send His punishment to you. Then you will make supplication and it will not be accepted”. [At-Tirmidhi].
“When people see an oppressor but do not prevent him from (doing evil), it is likely that Allah will punish them all.” [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].
“The parable of the one who observes the limits prescribed by Allah and the one who transgresses them is the likeness of people who board a ship after casting lots. Some of them are in its lower deck and others are in its upper deck. Those in the lower deck, when they need water, go to the upper deck and say: If we make a hole in the bottom of the ship, we will not harm you. If those in the upper deck leave them to carry out their plan, they will all be drowned, but if they stop them, then all of them will be safe.” (Bukhari)
"There are no people in whose midst acts of disobedience are habitual, and who can change these habits but not change them, except that Allah visits them with a sweeping punishement." (Abu Dawud, Ahmad and Ibn Majah)
In one of his speeches, after praising Allah The Almighty, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “O people, you read this verse often:{“O you who have believed, upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided. To Allah is you return all together; then He will inform you of what you used to do. ”} [Quran 5:105] However, you have misunderstood it. I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “If acts of disobedience are done among any people and they do not change them even though they are able to do so, Allah will soon smite them all with punishment.”[Ahmad, Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa’i, Al-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah] [Saheeh]
Abu Dardaa' said, "Either you enjoin good and forbid evil or Allah will set up you a tyrant ruler who will neither respect your elderly nor have mercy on your young. If the pious amongst you pray for their destruction, their prayers will not be answered. If you ask Allah for help, He will not grant it to you. And if you ask His forgiveness, He will not forgive you."
Bilal bin Sa'eed said, "If an act of disobedience is kept secret, it will harm only its doer, but if it is committed openly and not changed, it will harm everyone."
An-Nawawee said, "Enjoining Good & Forbidding Evil is a great issue which lies at the heart of all matters. If evil practices become abound, Allah's punishment will be visited upon the pious and the wicked alike. And if they fail to forbid the transgressors to do evil, Allah will make His punishment spread to encompass alll the people."
Thus, Muslim should enjoin each other to do what is good and forbid one another from doing what is evil. Furthermore, they should leniently and politely advise one another.
This exchange of advice is the secret to success as Allah The Exalted explains in Soorat Al-‘Asr which reads (what means):{"By time,* Indeed, mankind is in loss,*Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.”} [Quran 103:1-3]
Tricks of Shaitaan to make you stop
It is of no use
The devil misleads people to say, "Corruption has prevailed, enjoining good and forbidding evil will be in vain… we cannot reform others” and so on.
Sufyaan Ath-Thawri was once asked, “Should one advise someone whom he is certain would not accept his advice?" Sufyaan Ath-Thawrii answered, “Yes, he should, and let it be a means of absolving himself of potential punishment and blame of Allah The Exalted”, meaning that one should fulfill his duty at any rate and at least he would absolve himself.
I need to be perfect first
the devil misleads a Muslim to say to himself, A wrongdoer and as negligent as I am; how could I enjoin good and forbid evil?”
Sa‘eed bin Jubayr, said, “If no Muslims enjoined good and forbade evil until they have duly reformed themselves, no one would enjoin good or forbid evil.
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said to Mutarrif bin ‘Abdullaah, “Advise your friends.” He replied, "I am afraid that I would be advising them to do what I do not do myself.” Al-Hasan Al-Basri replied, “May Allah have mercy upon you! Who does what he says? Satan would love all Muslims to give up enjoining good and forbidding evil.”
FIQH OF ENJOINING GOOD FORBIDDING EVIL
Obligation is based on capability
The Prophet ﷺ also said, "Whoever sees an evil (being practiced) must change it with his hand. If he cannot do so, then with his tongue. If he (still) cannot do so, then with his heart, which is the weakest form if faith." (Bukhari & Muslim)
Ibn Taymeeyah said, "It is of collective responsibility, and becomes of individual responsibility (Fard 'Ain) incumbent upon every able person if no-one else exercises it." He also said, "The test of responsibility for this obligation is ability. Every Muslim is obliged to a degree proportional to his ability. Allah (swt) says (which means), "So fear Allah as much as you can."
The three stages of enjoining good and forbidding evil
1. The first stage: forbidding evil with the hand of a capable person examples:
Emptying vessels that contain Khamr (intoxicants),
Destroying instruments of music,
Stopping man from doing evil or oppression of people.
People in authority can oblige people to perform Salah and carry out Allah’s Commands and Obligations. A believer plays that role with his wife and children by enjoining them to observe the Commands of Allah (Exalted be He) and forbidding them to commit His Prohibitions.
2. The second stage which is enjoining good and forbidding evil with one’s tongue. Examples:
Requesting to fear Allah, perform Salah, pay Zakah,
Advising to stop doing a particular evil or the like.
Asking people to avoid Allah’s Prohibitions, be dutiful to parents and maintain kinship ties.
In this stage, a Muslim enjoins good and forbids evil with one’s tongue. He admonishes and reminds people.
3. Were a Muslim unable to forbid evil with the hand or tongue, the heart would be the last tool. In other words, he should abhor evil with his heart and avoid sitting with those who do it.
General Rule – Result should be more good than bad
All of what we are saying comes under the general principle which says that when benefit and harm are mixed up together, and one must choose between doing good with some bad side effects, or leaving that good to avoid its bad side effects, it is obligatory to choose the course having the greater overall or net benefit. This is because enjoining and forbidding though they entail the attainment of some benefit, and the prevention of some harm, its opposite must also be considered. If, in carrying out this enjoining or forbidding, there is benefit lost greater than the benefit gained, or harm is brought about greater than the harm which was avoided, then this is not part of that which Allah has ordered us to do, rather it is haram, because of the fact that its net harm is greater than its net benefit.
Do it with Patience & Campassion
The one enjoining right and forbidding wrong must be forbearing and patient in the face of adversity and persecution. Persecution must, of necessity, confront the true practitioner of enjoining right. If he is not patient, forbearing and wise in the face of this, he will cause more corruption than reform. Allah tells us of Luqman saying to his son: “And enjoin all that is right, and forbid all that is wrong, and be patient in the face of that which afflicts you, verily, that is the most upright of positions”. Qur'an 31/17.
And, the Prophet ﷺ said: "O, Aisha: Verily Allah is Compassionate, and He loves compassion. He gives based on compassion that which is not given based on force, and is not given based on any other cause." (Muslim and others)
I implore Allah, with His Most Beautiful Names and Attributes, to guide us and all Muslims to beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds. I ask Him to grant us deep understanding of Islam, make us firm in it and help us undertake the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil according to our own capacities and capabilities. We implore Allah to guide the Muslim rulers and every concerned Muslim to patiently come up with this obligation in the best manner. May Allah help every Muslim fulfill their duties and advise people for His Sake for He is the Most Generous! May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, Companions and those who follow them in piety and righteousness!
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the reasons & warnings.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
I. Invite atleast 10 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 4 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Talk to 5 people (friends or family) about any three topics from the course - (5 Marks)
III. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and Maghfirah of the Muslims who passed away. Pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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