The Correct Method of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
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Question:
The listener (N. N. N) sent a number of questions, one of which asked about the correct method of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and what is the wisdom intended in such a station?
Answer:
This is a great question worthy of attention; because enjoining good or forbidding evil is among the most important obligations and among the obligatory duties of Islam, and because carrying this out by those of knowledge, faith, and insight is among the greatest causes of the rectification of society, its safety from the punishment of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and its uprightness upon the straight path.
This is why He, the Exalted, says: [Al-Imran:110] So He made them the best of nations because of these good deeds. And He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Imran:104] He described them as successful for this great matter, which is their calling to what is good, their enjoining of what is right, and their forbidding of what is wrong. So He made them successful by their good deeds. Success is the attainment of all good and the attainment of the causes of happiness. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [At-Tawbah:71] So He promised them mercy for their good deeds, among which are enjoining good and forbidding evil.
This indicates that this is the obligation upon the believing men and believing women; it is not specific to one person over another. Rather, this is the obligation upon the believing men and believing women, and it is among their great attributes and noble morals. But it must be done with wisdom, with knowledge, not with ignorance, nor with violence and harshness, but with knowledge. One enjoins good and forbids evil with knowledge and insight regarding what Allah has commanded and what Allah has forbidden. So, what is right is what Allah and His Messenger have commanded, and what is wrong is what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden.
So, it is obligatory upon the one who enjoins and forbids that he have insight and be upon knowledge, whether he is a man or a woman. He must be upon knowledge, otherwise he should hold back so that he does not enjoin what is wrong or forbid what is right. Allah the Exalted said: [Yusuf:108] meaning: with knowledge. And He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: [An Nahl:125] 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. So, the one who enjoins also calls to Allah, and the one who forbids also calls to Allah, except that the one who enjoins and forbids may have authority that deters from what is wrong and compels what is right, while the caller to Allah is broader than that; he clarifies for people and guides them to the truth, and he may not have authority to compel.
So, the conclusion is that it is obligatory upon the caller to Allah, the one who enjoins good, and the one who forbids evil that he be upon knowledge, and be upon clear proof and insight, so that he does not enjoin 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 words, a good manner, and gentleness, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: [Al-Imran:159] And He, the Exalted, said to Musa and Harun when He sent them to Pharaoh: [Ta-Ha:44] So the one who enjoins good and forbids evil should be gentle with people, commanding with good words and forbidding with good words, so that this is closer to the acceptance of his command and prohibition and benefiting from it. Except for one who commits injustice, transgresses, and refuses; for him there is another manner of reprimand and discipline if he does not adhere to enjoining good and forbidding evil and does not cease from what is wrong. However, in the beginning, he addresses them with the best of speech, guides them, and advises them until they adhere to the truth. So if one is stubborn and refuses, he has another status regarding the implementation of what he deserves of reprimand, severity, and discipline, or imprisonment, or other than that which the pure Shari'ah requires. And Allah is the One to be sought for help. Yes.
The presenter: Allah is the Helper in all circumstances. May Allah reward you with good.
The listener (N. N. N) sent a number of questions, one of which asked about the correct method of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and what is the wisdom intended in such a station?
Answer:
This is a great question worthy of attention; because enjoining good or forbidding evil is among the most important obligations and among the obligatory duties of Islam, and because carrying this out by those of knowledge, faith, and insight is among the greatest causes of the rectification of society, its safety from the punishment of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and its uprightness upon the straight path.
This is why He, 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 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 الْمُفْلِحُونَThe 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 حَكِيمٌThis indicates that this is the obligation upon the believing men and believing women; it is not specific to one person over another. Rather, this is the obligation upon the believing men and believing women, and it is among their great attributes and noble morals. But it must be done with wisdom, with knowledge, not with ignorance, nor with violence and harshness, but with knowledge. One enjoins good and forbids evil with knowledge and insight regarding what Allah has commanded and what Allah has forbidden. So, what is right is what Allah and His Messenger have commanded, and what is wrong is what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden.
So, it is obligatory upon the one who enjoins and forbids that he have insight and be upon knowledge, whether he is a man or a woman. He must be upon knowledge, otherwise he should hold back so that he does not enjoin what is wrong or forbid what is right. Allah the Exalted said:
Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight
قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍInvite 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 أَحْسَنُSo, the conclusion is that it is obligatory upon the caller to Allah, the one who enjoins good, and the one who forbids evil that he be upon knowledge, and be upon clear proof and insight, so that he does not enjoin 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 words, a good manner, and gentleness, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) 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 يَخْشَىThe presenter: Allah is the Helper in all circumstances. May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.