The Ruling on Forbidding Evil and Explaining the Criteria for Denouncing Evil by Hand and by Tongue
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Question:
One of the female listeners from the city of Ta'if says: Your sister in Allah, Nala Al-'Asiri, sent a message containing twenty-four questions. In one of her questions, she asks and says: What is the ruling on enjoining good and forbidding evil? And how is the changing of evil by the heart, as mentioned in the well-known hadith, with clarification by examples as much as possible? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
Enjoining good and forbidding evil is an individual obligation for Muslims, men and women alike, and it is one of the most important obligations of Islam. The public benefit calls for it, and people are in need of this duty being carried out. Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Tawbah: 71]. This indicates that it is obligatory for everyone, for the believing men and the believing women. And He the Exalted said: [Surah Al-Imran: 110]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [Surah Al-Imran: 104].
Therefore, it is obligatory for Muslims—especially the scholars, the rulers, and the prominent people—that they enjoin good and forbid evil. Likewise, it is obligatory for women, especially those who have authority and those who have the ability. This is specific for everyone. She enjoins good upon her household, her daughters, her servants, her sisters, and whoever she sees committing evil. She enjoins good upon them and forbids them from evil, even to the extent of enjoining good upon men. Just as a man enjoins good upon a woman and forbids her from evil, so a woman enjoins good upon a man, her husband, her brother, her son, and others. She enjoins good upon them and forbids them from evil. This is obligatory for everyone, but with kind words and a good manner that encourages acceptance of the truth and leads to its acceptance. There should be no harshness in this, for it may cause aversion to accepting the truth. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [An-Nahl: 125]. And He the Exalted said: [Al-'Ankabut: 46]. They are the Jews and the Christians. [Al-'Ankabut: 46], meaning except for those who wronged, for they have a different response. And He the Exalted said: [Al-Imran: 159].
So the one who enjoins and the one who forbids enjoin good... he enjoins good and forbids evil with a good manner and appropriate words that encourage acceptance of the truth and desire submission to the response. Denouncing evil has three levels, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 49a.
By hand, it is for the rulers, the chiefs, the sheikhs of the tribes, and the committee to which this is entrusted. They must denounce by hand to pour out intoxicants, to disperse those gathered for falsehood, to compel people to prayer when the mu'adhdhin calls them to prayer, and the like of that. Likewise, the head of the household commands his children in his house and denounces evil upon them by hand. And likewise, the head of the household denounces by her hand if she sees evil among her household, if she has authority in the house, by pouring out intoxicants if she finds them, by breaking instruments of amusement, and the like of this denunciation by hand, destroying tobacco if found in the house, and the like of this if she has authority and ability, just as the man does. Whoever is unable to do this, like most people and the rest of the people, denounces by the tongue and does not proceed with his hand if that would cause fitnah, discord, and harm between him and people. Rather, he leaves this to the rulers and those to whom authority is entrusted. But he denounces by the tongue only: "My brother! Fear Allah. This is not permissible." "O servant of Allah! This is not permissible." He sees a man consuming intoxicants; he denounces it upon him, saying: "This is not permissible, it is a forbidden evil." He sees a woman displaying her adornment and uncovered in the markets; he denounces it upon her, saying: "O servant of Allah, fear Allah, cover yourself, leave off displaying your adornment." He sees a person cursing, speaking with lies and obscenity; he denounces it upon him and says: "O servant of Allah! Fear Allah. Cursing and obscenity are not permissible." Thus, he denounces by the tongue what he hears of evil or what he witnesses of evil. There is no difference between the man and the woman in that.
As for the one who is unable to do that, who cannot denounce it by tongue, by heart, or by action, fearing that he will be beaten, or killed, or imprisoned, and he is unable to speak in any place; then he denounces with his heart. He hates the evil with his heart and leaves the place. This is denunciation by the heart: hating the evil with his heart and being displeased with it. Allah knows his denunciation and displeasure in his heart upon seeing the evil. And he leaves the place, if he is able to leave the place; he leaves the place, he abandons the place, so that he does not witness the evil. This is the denunciation by the heart: hating the evil, detesting it, loving its removal, and leaving if he is able to leave the place, so that he does not witness the evil. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
One of the female listeners from the city of Ta'if says: Your sister in Allah, Nala Al-'Asiri, sent a message containing twenty-four questions. In one of her questions, she asks and says: What is the ruling on enjoining good and forbidding evil? And how is the changing of evil by the heart, as mentioned in the well-known hadith, with clarification by examples as much as possible? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
Enjoining good and forbidding evil is an individual obligation for Muslims, men and women alike, and it is one of the most important obligations of Islam. The public benefit calls for it, and people are in need of this duty being carried out. Allah the Exalted 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 الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌYou 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 وَتَنْهَوْنََ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِAnd 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 وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَTherefore, it is obligatory for Muslims—especially the scholars, the rulers, and the prominent people—that they enjoin good and forbid evil. Likewise, it is obligatory for women, especially those who have authority and those who have the ability. This is specific for everyone. She enjoins good upon her household, her daughters, her servants, her sisters, and whoever she sees committing evil. She enjoins good upon them and forbids them from evil, even to the extent of enjoining good upon men. Just as a man enjoins good upon a woman and forbids her from evil, so a woman enjoins good upon a man, her husband, her brother, her son, and others. She enjoins good upon them and forbids them from evil. This is obligatory for everyone, but with kind words and a good manner that encourages acceptance of the truth and leads to its acceptance. There should be no harshness in this, for it may cause aversion to accepting the truth. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) 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 أَحْسَنُAnd do not argue with the People of the Scripture
وَلا تُجَادِلُوا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِAnd do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them
وَلا تُجَادِلُوا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيََ أَحْسَنُ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْSo 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 وَلَوْْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لانْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَSo the one who enjoins and the one who forbids enjoin good... he enjoins good and forbids evil with a good manner and appropriate words that encourage acceptance of the truth and desire submission to the response. Denouncing evil has three levels, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.
من رأى منكم منكرًا؛ فليغيره بيده، فإن لم يستطع؛ فبلسانه، فإن لم يستطع؛ فبقلبه، وذلك أضعف الإيمانBy hand, it is for the rulers, the chiefs, the sheikhs of the tribes, and the committee to which this is entrusted. They must denounce by hand to pour out intoxicants, to disperse those gathered for falsehood, to compel people to prayer when the mu'adhdhin calls them to prayer, and the like of that. Likewise, the head of the household commands his children in his house and denounces evil upon them by hand. And likewise, the head of the household denounces by her hand if she sees evil among her household, if she has authority in the house, by pouring out intoxicants if she finds them, by breaking instruments of amusement, and the like of this denunciation by hand, destroying tobacco if found in the house, and the like of this if she has authority and ability, just as the man does. Whoever is unable to do this, like most people and the rest of the people, denounces by the tongue and does not proceed with his hand if that would cause fitnah, discord, and harm between him and people. Rather, he leaves this to the rulers and those to whom authority is entrusted. But he denounces by the tongue only: "My brother! Fear Allah. This is not permissible." "O servant of Allah! This is not permissible." He sees a man consuming intoxicants; he denounces it upon him, saying: "This is not permissible, it is a forbidden evil." He sees a woman displaying her adornment and uncovered in the markets; he denounces it upon her, saying: "O servant of Allah, fear Allah, cover yourself, leave off displaying your adornment." He sees a person cursing, speaking with lies and obscenity; he denounces it upon him and says: "O servant of Allah! Fear Allah. Cursing and obscenity are not permissible." Thus, he denounces by the tongue what he hears of evil or what he witnesses of evil. There is no difference between the man and the woman in that.
As for the one who is unable to do that, who cannot denounce it by tongue, by heart, or by action, fearing that he will be beaten, or killed, or imprisoned, and he is unable to speak in any place; then he denounces with his heart. He hates the evil with his heart and leaves the place. This is denunciation by the heart: hating the evil with his heart and being displeased with it. Allah knows his denunciation and displeasure in his heart upon seeing the evil. And he leaves the place, if he is able to leave the place; he leaves the place, he abandons the place, so that he does not witness the evil. This is the denunciation by the heart: hating the evil, detesting it, loving its removal, and leaving if he is able to leave the place, so that he does not witness the evil. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.