Author: "Abu Aisha"
Mu’tazila Sect (24th section)
The point of view of Ahl al-Sunnah’s
The opinion of Ahl al-Sunnah and Jamaat regarding the obligation of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil is the same as the opinion of the Mu’tazila; Of course, there are some differences and variations in its interpretation. In the following passages, we also discuss the ruling of enjoining good and forbidding evil:
Reasons for Ahl al-Sunnah
Quran verses:
Allah the Exalted says about the distinctive qualities of His servants: «الذین إن مکناهم في الأرض أقاموا الصلاة وآتوا الزکاة وأمروا بالمعروف ونهوا عن المنکر ولله عاقبة الأمور» “Those who, if we give them the ability on earth, will establish the prayer, give the zakat, and enjoin good deeds and refrain from evil deeds, and for Allah is the reward of all deeds.”
In these verses, Allah Almighty has mentioned “commanding good and forbidding evil” as one of the characteristics of believers, like prayer and other pillars.
Allah Almighty says about this Ummah: «کنتم خیر أمة أخرجت للناس تأمرون بالمعروف وتنهون عن المنکر» “You are the best nation (that) has appeared for the people, you command the worthy work and forbid the unworthy work.”
The superiority of this ummah over other ummahs is by “commanding the good and forbidding the evil,” and this ummah is the best of the ummahs. This ummah is the ummah that will enter heaven before all others, and two-thirds of this ummah are the people of Jannah.
This ummah is an ummah whose reward is multiplied many times by Allah Almighty, and the superiority of this ummah over others is in “enjoining good and forbidding evil,” not by the abundance of wealth, the abundance of positions and positions, nor by the abundance of places.
Hadiths of the Prophet, peace be upon him
Abu Saeed Khadri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, that he, peace be upon him, said: “Someone among you saw something wrong; So he should change it with his hand, and if he couldn’t change it with, so his tongue, and if he couldn’t; So with his heart [consider it bad], and this is the weakest degree of faith.”
Imam Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, says below this hadith: “This saying of the Prophet, peace be upon him, «فلیغیره…» “Let him change it…” is a matter that indicates the obligation of the consensus of the Ummah, and the obligation of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil is established by the Book, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Ummah, and this is also part of Advice, which is a part of religion.”
He further writes: “Know that enjoining good and forbidding evil is a Farz Kefaye (Obligatory); If some people fulfill this responsibility, it falls from the responsibility of the rest, and if all leave it, then whoever leaves it without excuse or fear, while he has the ability to do it, becomes a sinner.”
In Sharh al-Arbaeen al-Nawawiyyah, it is stated below this hadith: “This hadith is a very great hadith, and this hadith also states the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil. This hadith is visible and obvious to you with all the details because this hadith has been told a lot.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, says: “[O people] enjoin good deeds and forbid evil deeds, before you pray to Allah, but if you don’t, He won’t answer your prayer, and before you ask for forgiveness, but He will not forgive you. Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil will not take anyone’s life away from him. When the Jewish and Christian scholars and clerics left the command to the good and forbidding the evil, Allah Almighty cursed them in the language of His prophets. Then the torment overtook them.”
It is narrated from Hazrat Huzaifa bin Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “I swear by the one who has my life in His control; Be sure to enjoin the good and forbid the evil; otherwise, Almighty Allah will send down on you such an eagle that you call him and shout, he will not hear your cries and will not answer your prayers.”
Musnef R.H, may Allah have mercy on him, quotes the saying of Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, under the same hadith, which he says: “So the obligation to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil is established by the Book and the Sunnah.”
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that he interpreted this verse as follows: «وقولوا للناس حسنا» “And speak good words to people” means: “Command good deeds and forbid ugly and inappropriate deeds.”
