The Order of Enjoining the Good and Forbidding the Evil
First of all, it is important to understand that commanding good and forbidding bad is one of the fundamental principles of Islam. Some scholars even consider it among the pillars of Islam, asserting that the structure of Islam is incomplete without this practice. The main sources of Shari’ah clearly indicate that enjoining what is good and forbidding what is bad is an obligatory duty, as emphasized in the Qur’an and the hadiths of the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him.
Reasons from the Holy Quran
The following verses clearly demonstrate that enjoining what is good and forbidding what is bad is a crucial factor in achieving human success and salvation. Almighty Allah says: «وَلْتَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ» Translation: “There must be a group among you who call to good, enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and such people are saved.” Sheikh Hamed bin Ahmad al-Bakr writes about this verse, noting that if this divine obligation is neglected, the Islamic nation will not achieve prosperity and salvation.
In another verse, Allah Almighty reminds us that one of the essential attributes of believers is the act of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil: «وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللّهُ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ» Translation: “And believing men and believing women are friends and protectors of one another; they enjoin what is good and forbid what is bad, establish prayer, pay zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. They are the ones whom Allah will show mercy to; indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
Sheikh al-Bakr further comments on this verse, emphasizing that obligatory faith can only be achieved by those who exhibit these qualities. He also notes that Allah’s mercy encompasses those who fulfill these obligations correctly. Therefore, it can be inferred that enjoining what is good and forbidding what is bad is not a special invitation but rather an obligation for every believing man and woman, according to their capability.
Condemning the abandonment of what is good and the neglect of forbidding what is bad, Allah Almighty states: «لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن بَنِيإِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى لِسَانِ دَاوُودَ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ذَلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُواْ يَعْتَدُونَ (۷۸) كَانُواْ لاَ يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُواْ يَفْعَلُونَ تَرَى كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَبِئْسَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لَهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ أَن سَخِطَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَفِي الْعَذَابِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ» Translation: “The disbelievers of Bani Israel were cursed by the words of David and Jesus, the son of Mary, because they disobeyed and transgressed. They used to do things that provoked Allah’s wrath, and thus they faced eternal torment.”
In another verse, Allah Ta’ala defines the salvation of certain nations by their commitment to enjoining what is good and forbidding what is bad: «فَلَوْلاَ كَانَ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ أُوْلُواْ بَقِيَّةٍ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْفَسَادِ فِي الأَرْضِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً مِّمَّنْ أَنجَيْنَا مِنْهُمْ» Translation: “Then why were there no wise men among the nations before you who prevented [people] from corrupting the earth, except for a few whom We saved? And those who did wrong followed their pleasures and were sinners.”
In order to save those who enjoin good and forbid evil, Allah Almighty says: «فَلَمَّا نَسُواْ مَا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ أَنجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ السُّوءِ وَأَخَذْنَا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ بِعَذَابٍ بَئِيسٍ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفْسُقُونَ» Translation: “So when they forgot what they had been reminded of, we saved those who forbade evil, and We inflicted a severe punishment on those who were disobedient.”
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