Enjoining good and forbidding evil —Journalistic participation

All praise be to Allah and peace be upon His Messenger.

Q- What is the importance of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and what are its good effects on individuals as well as societies?

A- The importance of enjoining good and forbidding evil traces back to its obligation on this nation. Scholars have agreed to the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil according to the views that were reported from them by virtue of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Ibn Hazm said: The entire nation has agreed to the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil without disagreement.

Enjoining good and forbidding evil was not obligatory on this nation only, but also was obligatory on previous nations as proved by the Glorious Qur'an in many positions.

Enjoining good and forbidding evil has good effects on individuals as well as on society, of which:

1- It is a cause for goodness because of Allah's Saying: "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." [Surat Al `Imran: 110]. The Ayah contains praise for this nation as long as it enjoins good and forbids evil and characterized by that.

2- It is a cause for success for the doers because of Allah's Saying: "Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islâm), enjoining Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful." [Surat Al `Imran: 104].

3- Enjoining good and forbidding evil from the special traits of the believers: because of Allah's Saying: "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 (peace be upon him). Allâh will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise." [Surat At-Tawbah: 71].

4- Enjoining good and forbidding evil is a cause for rescue from destruction: Societies shall be destroyed and shall deserve torment when evil prevails and people transgress the proper limits. The people who enjoin good and forbid evil are the cause for rescuing the society from destruction that may befall because of the continuing sins and transgressing the limits set by Allah (He may be Exalted) by committing major sins and turning away from the obligatory duties. The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave a fine example when he said: "The example of the person abiding by Allah's order and restrictions in comparison to those who violate them is like the example of those persons who drew lots for their seats in a boat. Some of them got seats in the upper part, and the others in the lower. When the latter needed water, they had to go up to bring water (and that troubled the others), so they said, 'Let us make a hole in our share of the ship (and get water) saving those who are above us from troubling them. So, if the people in the upper part left the others do what they had suggested, all the people of the ship would be destroyed, but if they prevented them, both parties would be safe." [Reported by Al Bukhari].

5- Enjoining good and forbidding evil is from the things that expiate sins: Of Allah's Grace to His Servants that He made the righteous deeds a cause for erasing sins; such as Salah, fasting, and Hajj (pilgrimage). Of these things that erase sins is enjoining good and forbidding evil because of what was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from the Hadith of Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) the he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: "A man's afflictions (wrong deeds) concerning his wife, children and neighbours are expiated by (his) prayers, charity, and enjoining good and forbidding of evil."

6- Enjoining good is a cause for gaining plenty rewards: The one who commands with Salah, for instance, shall have the same reward as the one who performed it. Likewise, the one who commands with charities, Hajj, or other kinds of righteous acts, duties or desirable matters shall have the same reward of the doer. Moreover, it has many benefits for individuals as well as the community.

Q- What are the permissible means to enjoin good and forbid evil?

A- The permissible means differ according to the difference of the commander and the one who prohibits as well as the kind of the forsaken (good) act or the committed (deniable) act. However, the general rule is using wisdom in applying them and not to transgress the limits set by Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) explained some of that by saying: "He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith." [Reported by Muslim].