Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil

Praise be to
Allaah.

Man is very forgetful and makes a lot of mistakes.
His own self (nafs) tells him to do evil and the Shaytaan tempts him
to commit sin. When bodies get sick and are afflicted with disease,
one has to find a doctor who can prescribe the appropriate medicine
so that the body may be restored to full health. Similarly, souls and
hearts may be afflicted with the diseases of desire and doubt, so people
do things which Allaah has forbidden, such as shedding blood, committing
adultery, drinking alcohol, oppressing people and consuming their wealth
unlawfully, preventing people from following the way of Allaah and disbelieving
in Allaah. 

The diseases of the heart [psychological and
spiritual diseases] are worse than diseases of the body. This means
that one must find a doctor who is skilled in treating such diseases.
Because the diseases of the heart are so many and cause the spread of
evil and corruption, Allaah has enjoined the believers to treat these
diseases, by enjoining that which is good and forbidding that which
is evil. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Let there arise
out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining
Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to
do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that
Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful” [Aal
‘Imraan 3:104] 

Enjoining what is good (al-ma’roof)
and forbidding what is evil (al-munkar) is one of the most important
Islamic duties, indeed it is the noblest and most sublime. This is the
task of the Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them all), as Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Messengers as
bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should
have no plea against Allaah after the (coming of) Messengers” [al-Nisaa’
4:165] 

Allaah has made the Muslim ummah the best nation
ever raised up for mankind, in order to do this important task, as Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):  

“You (true believers
in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad and his
Sunnah) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin
Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained)
and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam
has forbidden), and you believe in Allaah” [Aal
‘Imraan 3:110] 

If the ummah fails to do its duty of enjoining
what is good and forbidding what is evil, wrongdoing and corruption
will spread throughout the ummah, and it will deserve the curse of Allaah.
For Allaah cursed those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved
because they failed in this important duty. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning): 

“Those
among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue
of Dawood (David) and ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). That was
because they disobeyed (Allaah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing
beyond bounds.

They used not
to forbid one another from Al-Munkar (wrong, evildoing, sins, polytheism,
disbelief) which they committed. Vile indeed was what they used to do
[al-Maa’idah 5:78] 

Enjoining what is good and forbidding what
is evil is one of the basic principles of this religion, and doing this
is jihaad for the sake of Allaah. Jihaad requires putting up with difficulties
and bearing insults and harm with patience, as Luqmaan said to his son: 

“O my son! Aqim-is-Salaah (perform As-Salaah),
enjoin (on people) Al-Ma‘roof  (Islamic Monotheism and all
that is good), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief
in the Oneness of Allaah, polytheism of all kinds and all that is evil
and bad), and bear with patience whatever befalls you. Verily, these
are some of the important commandments (ordered by Allaah with no exemption”
[Luqmaan 31:17 – interpretation
of the meaning] 

Enjoining what is good and forbidding what
is evil is an important mission, hence those who undertake this mission
must be of good character and must understand the objectives of sharee’ah;
they must call people with wisdom and fair preaching and deal with them
in a kind and gentle manner, so that Allaah may guide those whom He
wills at their hands. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Invite (mankind,
O Muhammad) to the way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with
the Divine Revelation and the Qur’aan) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has
gone astray from His path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are
guided” [al-Nahl 16:125] 

The ummah
which establishes the symbols of Islam, enjoins what is good and forbids
what is evil, will attain happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.
Allaah will send them His support and grant them victory, as He says
(interpretation of the meaning): 

“Verily,
Allaah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allaah is All-Strong,
All-Mighty.

Those (Muslim
rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) enjoin Iqamaat-as-Salaah
[i.e. to perform the five compulsory congregational Salaah (prayers)
(the males in mosques)], to pay the Zakaah and they enjoin Al-Ma‘roof
(i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid
Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism and all that Islam has forbidden)
[i.e. they make the Qur’aan as the law of their country in all the spheres
of life]. And with Allaah rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures)”
[al-Hajj 22:40-41] 

Enjoining what is good and forbidding what
is evil is a mission which will never end until the Hour begins. It
is obligatory upon all the ummah, rulers and subjects, men and women,
each according to his or her circumstances. The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever among you
sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand [by taking action];
and if he cannot, then with his tongue [by speaking out]; and if he
cannot, then with his heart [by feeling that it is wrong] – and that
is the weakest of faith.” (Narrated by Muslim, 49) 

The Muslim ummah is one nation, and if corruption
becomes widespread in it and its circumstances turn bad, then all the
Muslims are obliged to reform it, rid it of evil things, enjoin what
is good and forbid what is bad, and offer sincere advice to all. The
Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said:

“Religion is sincerity.” We said, “To whom?” He said,
“To Allaah and His Book, and His Messenger, and to the leaders of the
Muslims and their common folk.” (Narrated by Muslim, 95). 

If a Muslim is commanded to do something,
he should be the quickest of people to do it, and if he is forbidden
to do something, he must be the one who keeps furthest away from it.
Allaah has issued a warning to those who go against that, as He says
(interpretation of the meaning): 

“O
you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?

Most hateful
it is with Allaah that you say that which you do not do” [al-Saff
61:2-3] 

No matter how righteous a person may be, he
still needs sincere advice, guidance and reminders in the light of the
Qur’aan and Sunnah. Allaah said to the Messenger of the Lord of the
Worlds, the most perfect of all creation (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O
Prophet (Muhammad)! Keep your duty to Allaah, and obey not the disbelievers
and the hypocrites (i.e., do not follow their advice). Verily, Allaah
is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise”

[al-Ahzaab 33:1] 

So we must all enjoin that which is good and
forbid that which is evil, so that we may attain the Pleasure of Allaah
and His Paradise.