The Method of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil and the Wisdom Intended in It
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Question: What is the method for enjoining good and forbidding evil? And what is the wisdom intended in this matter?
Answer: This is a great question worthy of attention; for enjoining good and forbidding evil is among the most important obligations in Islam, and among its great duties; and because carrying this out by people of knowledge, faith, and insight is among the greatest causes for the rectification of Muslim societies and their salvation from the punishment of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)in this world and the Hereafter, and their steadfastness upon the straight path. For this reason, Allah the Exalted says:[Al-Imran: 110] He made them the best nation produced for mankind because of these good deeds.
And He (peace and blessings be upon him) said::[Al-Imran: 104] He described them with absolute success for this great matter, which is their calling to good, their enjoining of what is right, and their forbidding of what is wrong. Thus, He (Mighty and Majestic) made them successful by their good deeds. Success is the attainment of all good, and it is among the causes of happiness in this world and the Hereafter.
And He, Exalted is He, said: [At-Tawbah: 71] He promised them mercy for their good deeds, among which are enjoining good and forbidding evil. This indicates that it is obligatory upon all believing men and women, each according to his or her capacity, and it is not exclusive to one person over another. It is among their great attributes and noble morals. However, it must be done with wisdom and knowledge, not with ignorance or violence and harshness. One should forbid what is wrong and enjoin what is right with knowledge and insight. What is right is what Allah and His Messenger commanded, and what is wrong is what Allah and His Messenger forbade.
So it is obligatory upon the one who enjoins and the one who forbids to be upon insight and knowledge, whether he is a man or a woman. Otherwise, let him refrain from it. Allah the Exalted said: [Yusuf: 108] His saying, Exalted is He, "upon insight" means upon knowledge.
And He, Glorious and Exalted, said: [An-Nahl: 125] Wisdom is knowledge, and calling to Allah is of the same kind as enjoining good and forbidding evil; because it is the clarification of the truth and its manifestation to people. The one who enjoins good and forbids evil may have authority with which he can deter the doer of evil and compel the one who leaves the obligatory good. Calling to Allah is broader than that; it is the clarification to people and guiding them to the truth.
In summary: It is obligatory upon the caller to Allah, the one who enjoins good, and the one who forbids evil to be upon knowledge and proof, so that he does not command what contradicts the Shari'ah, and so that he does not forbid what is in accordance with the Shari'ah. It is also obligatory that this be done with gentleness, without violence, and without foul language. Rather, it should be with good speech, a good manner, and gentleness. As Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: [Al-Imran: 159] And He, Exalted and Glorified, said to Moses and Aaron when He sent them to Pharaoh: [Ta-Ha: 44].
Answer: This is a great question worthy of attention; for enjoining good and forbidding evil is among the most important obligations in Islam, and among its great duties; and because carrying this out by people of knowledge, faith, and insight is among the greatest causes for the rectification of Muslim societies and their salvation from the punishment of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)in this world and the Hereafter, and their steadfastness upon the straight path. For this reason, Allah the Exalted says:
You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.
كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِAnd He (peace and blessings be upon him) said::
And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.
وَلْتَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَAnd He, Exalted is He, said:
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌSo it is obligatory upon the one who enjoins and the one who forbids to be upon insight and knowledge, whether he is a man or a woman. Otherwise, let him refrain from it. Allah the Exalted said:
This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me
قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِيAnd He, Glorious and Exalted, said:
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best
ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُIn summary: It is obligatory upon the caller to Allah, the one who enjoins good, and the one who forbids evil to be upon knowledge and proof, so that he does not command what contradicts the Shari'ah, and so that he does not forbid what is in accordance with the Shari'ah. It is also obligatory that this be done with gentleness, without violence, and without foul language. Rather, it should be with good speech, a good manner, and gentleness. As Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said:
So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لانْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَAnd speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]."
فَقُولا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَيِّنًا لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.