Author: Abu Erfan
Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil (part 5)
The Importance of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
In the world of science and technology, every topic is better and more fully understood by its definition and importance. In the Holy Qur’an, there are various verses about the importance of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and in fact, this divine obligation is of special importance in the Islamic religion, and special attention has been paid to it. In the following, some famous positions in this field are mentioned:
1. Enjoining what is Good and forbidding what is evil is a human necessity; Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, with an argument from the verse “«إِنَّ النَّفسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ» writes: “For every human being on earth, commanding and forbidding is a serious necessity, and it is necessary for him to command and forbid, even if he is alone. It is also necessary for him to command himself to do what is good and refrain from what is bad.”
2. Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is bad is stated after the discussion of faith in Allah Almighty and faith in the judgment Day. This topic itself is an indication of understanding the position and value of what is known and forbidding what is evil in the holy religion of Islam. The verse related to this issue is found in Surah Al-Imran, verse 114, which says:
«يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ»
Means: They believe in Allah and the Day of Resurrection, and they Enjoin the Good deeds, and forbid the evil deeds.
3. Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is Evil is one of the attributes of the Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an in the description of His Prophet:
«يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ»
Translation: “He commands them to do good deeds and forbids them from ugliness [and indecent deeds] and makes clean things lawful for them and makes unclean things haram for them.”
4. Among the characteristics of Muslim men and women, commanding what is good and forbidding what is Evil has been mentioned before the two basic pillars of Islam, prayer and zakat. It is stated in the Holy Quran:
«وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ»
It means: “Muslim men and Muslim women are friends [and helpers] of each other; They enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, perform prayer and pay zakat.
4. Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is Evil causes the blessings of Allah (S.W.T) to descend. The attributes mentioned in the following verse are all among the good attributes for the servants whom Allah Almighty has mercy on and bestows His grace on them. It is stated in the Qur’an:
«وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ».
It means: “Believing men and believing women are friends [and helpers] of each other; They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, they establish prayer, pay zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger, they are the ones whom Allah Almighty will soon grant His mercy. Undoubtedly, Allah is Mighty and Wise.
6. The opposite of commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil, that is, commanding what is evil and encouraging to do what is prohibited and stopping from doing good deeds are among the characteristics of the hypocrites who have forgotten their God and Allah Almighty has also left them to forget and did not pay attention to them. Almighty Allah say in the Holy Quran:
«الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمُنْكَرِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمَعْرُوفِ»
Translation: “Hypocrite men and hypocrite women are all [the same and] from the same group; They command evil deeds and forbid good deeds.
Since man is the Caliph of Allah (S.W.T) on earth and the establishment of justice, which is definitely under the shadow of power and government, is one of his duties; After granting the mission of justice, Allah Almighty commands goodness, peace and mercy and forbids immorality and vices. Almighty Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ».
Translation: “Indeed, Allah commands justice, benevolence, and forgiveness to those close to him, and forbids prostitution, evildoing, and oppression.”
