Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil: Importance and Methods (Part Two)
Enjoining good and forbidding evil from the perspective of the Holy Quran
Enjoining good and forbidding evil has been important in all religions in some way; but in Islam, in addition to emphasizing it, it has been made one of the basic duties and tasks of this nation. This matter is mentioned in various verses in various ways, a few of which are mentioned here: «وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ» Translation: “(There should be a group among you who [see the necessary education and learn the Quran, Sunnah and the rulings of the Sharia and call people] to goodness and enjoin good and forbid evil, and they are the ones who will be successful.)” «كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ…» Translation: (You [the followers of Muhammad] are the best nation ever raised up for mankind, enjoining good and forbidding evil and believing in Allah.) This verse refers to two things: 1. This nation is superior to other nations; 2. The basis of superiority is on fulfilling the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil As this was the duty of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
«الَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُورِ» Translation: ([Those who believe, to whom Allah has promised victory] are those who, when We establish them in the land, establish prayer, give zakat, enjoin good and forbid evil. And to Allah is the final judgment of all matters, just as the beginning of all matters is from Allah.) «كَانُواْ لاَ يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُواْ يَفْعَلُونَ» Translation: (They did not stop the evil deeds they were doing, nor did they forbid one another from evil deeds [and did not advise], and how evil they were doing! [Because a group would commit evil deeds and a group would remain silent, and thus all would become criminals].)
Enjoining good and forbidding evil from the perspective of the Prophetic Sunnah
Many emphases on enjoining good and forbidding evil have been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him); He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has also strongly warned against neglecting this matter, and it is sufficient to mention two hadiths in this regard: عن عائشة رضیاللهعنها قالت: سمعت رسول الله صلىاللهعليهوسلم يقول: «مروا بالمعروف، وانهوا عن المنكر، قبل أن تدعوا فلا يستجاب لكم» Translation: (Hazrat Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: Enjoin good and forbid evil, before you supplicate and your supplication is not answered.)
عن حذيفة بن اليمان عن النبي صلىاللهعليهوسلم قال: «والذي نفسي بيده لتأمرن بالمعروف ولتنهون عن المنكر أو ليوشكن الله أن يبعث عليكم عقابا منه ثم تدعونه فلا يستجاب لكم» Translation: (Huzayfah ibn al-Yaman narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said: By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, you must enjoin good and forbid evil, or it will be near that Allah will bring His punishment upon you, and then you will pray to Allah and your prayers will not be answered.)
