What is the ruling on one who enjoins good and forbids evil, but does not do so himself?
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The questioner:
May Allah reward you. The questioner, Abdullah ibn Muhammad, asks: What is the ruling on one who enjoins good and forbids evil but does not do so himself, whether he is overcome by it or has an excuse like that?
The Shaykh:
It is obligatory for him to enjoin good and forbid evil, because Allah the Exalted has commanded it:[Ali 'Imran 3:104] It is also obligatory for him to avoid what is forbidden and to do what is commanded, and he must not contradict this in his speech or his action. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:44] He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: [As-Saf 61:2] It says: [As-Saf 61:2-3] And al-muqt is the most intense hatred; Allah hates this action with the most intense hatred. Therefore, the one who enjoins good, forbids evil, and calls people to Allah must comply with what he commands and what he calls people to before others, so that he may be a good role model. As for the one whose action contradicts his speech, he is sinful and threatened with severe warning. Shu'ayb (peace be upon him) said: [Hud 11:88] ...from what we forbid you. I only wish to reform as much as I am able, and my success is only from Allah. Therefore, the one who calls to Allah, and enjoins good and forbids evil, must be the first to comply with it in himself. But if he enjoins good upon others and forbids evil for others, while he does not stop [from evil] and does not do good, then he exposes himself to the warning. However, despite this, it is obligatory for him to enjoin good and forbid evil, even if he falls into some transgressions, for this does not remove from him the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil.
The questioner:
Because some people may face a difficulty regarding the texts you mentioned, such as [the one who] enjoins but does not practice, or what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned about that man who is turned around in his position in the Fire, and the people of the Fire see him, saying: "Did you enjoin or forbid?"
The Shaykh:
Yes, this does not indicate that he should leave off enjoining good and forbidding evil. The Messenger did not forbid enjoining good and forbidding evil if one does not act on what he says; he did not forbid that. And the verse did not forbid that. But this is what obligates him to be the first to comply with what he enjoins and what he forbids. As for if he leaves off enjoining good and forbidding evil and commits transgressions, then he has combined two evils: leaving off enjoining good and forbidding evil, and committing transgressions. No one is safe from deficiency, and no one is safe from transgressions. So if one did not enjoin or forbid except one who was perfect, this aspect, the aspect of enjoining good and forbidding evil, would be neglected. But the obligation is to repent to Allah and to reform one's word and deed, and for the person to enjoin and forbid himself before the people. This is what is required.
May Allah reward you. The questioner, Abdullah ibn Muhammad, asks: What is the ruling on one who enjoins good and forbids evil but does not do so himself, whether he is overcome by it or has an excuse like that?
The Shaykh:
It is obligatory for him to enjoin good and forbid evil, because Allah the Exalted has commanded it:
And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong
وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِDo you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason?
أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَO you who have believed, why
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَwhat you do not do? (3) Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.
مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ اللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَAnd I do not intend to differ from you
وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْThe questioner:
Because some people may face a difficulty regarding the texts you mentioned, such as [the one who] enjoins but does not practice, or what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned about that man who is turned around in his position in the Fire, and the people of the Fire see him, saying: "Did you enjoin or forbid?"
The Shaykh:
Yes, this does not indicate that he should leave off enjoining good and forbidding evil. The Messenger did not forbid enjoining good and forbidding evil if one does not act on what he says; he did not forbid that. And the verse did not forbid that. But this is what obligates him to be the first to comply with what he enjoins and what he forbids. As for if he leaves off enjoining good and forbidding evil and commits transgressions, then he has combined two evils: leaving off enjoining good and forbidding evil, and committing transgressions. No one is safe from deficiency, and no one is safe from transgressions. So if one did not enjoin or forbid except one who was perfect, this aspect, the aspect of enjoining good and forbidding evil, would be neglected. But the obligation is to repent to Allah and to reform one's word and deed, and for the person to enjoin and forbid himself before the people. This is what is required.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حكم من يأمر بالمعروف وينهى عن المنكر، ولكنه في نفسه لا يفعل ذلك؟ الشيخ صالح بن فوزان الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.