Consequences of Abandoning Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
1. Emergence of Islam’s Estrangement and Isolation:
Enjoining good and forbidding evil is an essential duty for every society and community. It strengthens unity and cohesion and fortifies the bonds among individuals. When this significant responsibility is neglected, not only does unity and solidarity erode, but also feelings of brotherhood, empathy, and mutual cooperation weaken. Responsibilities assigned to every Muslim by Islam are ignored. Losing these values leads to the estrangement of Islam—a religion that plays a central role in human life and was established to uphold principles of humanity and worship that culminate in mental, spiritual, and physical tranquility. Islam aims to ensure worldly and eternal happiness for humanity, but neglecting the enjoining of good and forbidding evil isolates the religion and causes it to deviate from its original path.
Moreover, Islam’s estrangement is identified as one of the signs of the Day of Judgment. In such times, patience and perseverance are regarded as praiseworthy and virtuous. As the Prophet ﷺ stated: “يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ الصَّابِرُ فِيهِمْ عَلَى دِينِهِ كَالْقَابِضِ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ” Translation: “A time will come upon people when one who is patient in adhering to their religion will be like one holding onto burning embers.”
This estrangement is caused by the scarcity of supporters of the faith in society. In such situations, true lovers of Islam will be few in number but will excel in quality. Simultaneously, due to the lack of genuine reformers and preachers, societal destruction and doubt spread, paving the way for misguidance and humiliation among the masses.
Additionally, misguided preachers and proponents of corruption take the stage. If Muslims remain silent and indifferent while their beliefs and values are destroyed, Islam will undoubtedly become estranged like never before. This estrangement arises from the neglect of enjoining good and forbidding evil—a duty upon Muslims to ensure that the religion is properly introduced and understood. Neglecting this responsibility allows Islam to remain misrepresented, unknown, or defined in an unfavorable manner.
This state is referred to as “estrangement” or “isolation.” The Prophet (PBUH) said: “بَدَأَ الإِسْلَامُ غَرِيبًا وَسَيَعُودُ كَمَا بَدَأَ غَرِيبًا فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ” Translation: “Islam began as something strange and will return to being strange, so blessed are the strangers.”
The concept of estrangement here implies a scarcity of callers to faith, similar to the early days of Islam when its preachers were few yet managed to spread it. Today, despite the abundance of Muslims, the absence of those who guide others towards Islam and enjoin good while forbidding evil leads to its isolation. Those who take on this divine task will be greatly rewarded by Allah, while those who neglect it will undoubtedly face accountability.
2. Affinity for Evil:
All commandments and statements in the Holy Qur’an and the religion of Islam either enjoin good or forbid evil. Through this principle, the distinction between virtue, goodness, and salvation versus evil, sin, and perdition becomes clear. Neglecting this duty leads to one of the gravest consequences: developing an affinity for sin and evil. Once a person falls into this trap, escaping becomes challenging, especially if it becomes a habit or lifestyle.
When the elite of the Islamic community, who possess a deep understanding of enjoining good and forbidding evil, abandon this duty, society becomes engulfed in sins and evil practices, gradually normalizing them. This indifference leads to a collective punishment from Allah, as mentioned in the hadith: “إِنَّ النَّاسَ إِذَا رَأَوْا الظَّالِمَ فَلَمْ يَأْخُذُوا عَلَى يَدَيْهِ أَوْشَكَ أَنْ يَعُمَّهُمُ اللَّهُ بِعِقَابٍ مِنْهُ” Translation: “When people see a wrongdoer and do not stop him, Allah may soon inflict a collective punishment upon them.”
3. Being Cursed:
In Islam, curses are reserved for specific severe offenses. If a Muslim neglects enjoining good and forbidding evil, they indirectly encourage sin and misguidance, resulting in divine condemnation. The Qur’an highlights the curse upon the Israelites for their failure to forbid evil: “لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى لِسَانِ دَاوُودَ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ… كَانُوا لا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ…” (Surah Al-Ma’idah: 78-79)
Translation: “Those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary… They used not to forbid one another from wrongdoing they committed…”
On the contrary, fulfilling this duty protects the Islamic community from societal diseases, preserves its integrity, and earns Allah’s mercy and favor. Allah states: “كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِْ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ” (Surah Aal-e-Imran: 110) Translation: “You are the best nation produced for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.”
The emphasis in numerous Qur’anic verses and prophetic traditions on enjoining good and forbidding evil reflects its pivotal role in the preservation and advancement of the Muslim Ummah. Neglecting it leads to severe spiritual, societal, and communal consequences, making it incumbent upon every Muslim to uphold this divine responsibility.
