Not Limiting the Commanding of Good and Forbidding of Evil to a Specific Department
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Question:
Limiting the commanding of good and forbidding of evil to people who are dedicated to that task is certainly bad and wrong. But the question is: do these people have knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah, or not? And the second thing: is the function they perform limited to commanding prayer, whereas the command is much broader than that? We ask for clarification on this.
Answer:
They have an obligation; they must command good and forbid evil in every matter, not just in the matter of prayer. The obligation on all the committees, as they have been appointed for this task, is to command good as it is and forbid evil as it is, and it is not limited to prayer. Rather, they command good in terms of prayer, in terms of zakah, in terms of fasting, and in terms of all other matters that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has commanded.
Likewise, they forbid evil in all its forms, from all sins and their means. But we ask Allah to grant them energy and strength. Moreover, this is not exclusive to them; commanding good and forbidding evil is not limited to those who are dedicated to it. This is an obligation on everyone; it is not specific to the dedicated ones. Allah the Exalted says: [At-Tawbah: 71]. So, commanding good and forbidding evil is obligatory on all believers, whether they are dedicated to it or not, whether they receive a salary or not. It is the obligation of all of them to carry out this task, and it is not limited to employees only. No, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 49a narrated by Muslim in the Sahih. This is general for everyone.
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 50a.
So, it is obligatory for the believer to be active in this matter and not leave the task to the committees. No, this is a great deficiency and a great danger. It is obligatory for everyone to be soldiers for Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to be those who command good and forbid evil in all circumstances, not for the sake of a job, not by official order, and not for a salary, but by the eternal command from the side of Allah, by the command of Allah and His Messenger. So, the command of Allah and His Messenger is above everyone, above all jobs, above all orders, in every place, in the desert, in the cities, in the villages, in the airplane, in the car, in the train, in the mosque, and in every place. They should have the good intention, the sense of accountability, and energy for good, while observing gentleness and good manner, while observing forbearance and patience, and good manner in forbidding evil and calling to good, so that perhaps he may be saved, so that perhaps he may be granted success, so that perhaps his deed may be accepted.
Limiting the commanding of good and forbidding of evil to people who are dedicated to that task is certainly bad and wrong. But the question is: do these people have knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah, or not? And the second thing: is the function they perform limited to commanding prayer, whereas the command is much broader than that? We ask for clarification on this.
Answer:
They have an obligation; they must command good and forbid evil in every matter, not just in the matter of prayer. The obligation on all the committees, as they have been appointed for this task, is to command good as it is and forbid evil as it is, and it is not limited to prayer. Rather, they command good in terms of prayer, in terms of zakah, in terms of fasting, and in terms of all other matters that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has commanded.
Likewise, they forbid evil in all its forms, from all sins and their means. But we ask Allah to grant them energy and strength. Moreover, this is not exclusive to them; commanding good and forbidding evil is not limited to those who are dedicated to it. This is an obligation on everyone; it is not specific to the dedicated ones. Allah the Exalted says:
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ، وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِHe 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 الإيمانAnd he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Never a Prophet had been sent before me by Allah towards his nation who had not among his people (his) disciples and companions who followed his ways and obeyed his command. Then there came after them their successors who said whatever they did not practise, and practised whatever they were not commanded to do. He who strove against them with his hand was a believer: he who strove against them with his tongue was a believer, and he who strove against them with his heart was a believer and beyond that there is no faith even to the extent of a mustard seed.
ما بعث الله من نبي لأمة قبلي إلا كان له من أمته حواريون، وأصحاب، يأخذون بسنته، ويقتدون بأمره، ، ثم إنها تخلف من بعدهم خلوفًا يقولون ما لا يفعلون، ويفعلون ما لا يؤمرون، فمن جاهدهم بيده؛ فهو مؤمن، ومن جاهدهم بلسانه؛ فهو مؤمن، ومن جاهدهم بقلبه؛ فهو مؤمن، وليس وراء ذلك من الإيمان حبة خردلSo, it is obligatory for the believer to be active in this matter and not leave the task to the committees. No, this is a great deficiency and a great danger. It is obligatory for everyone to be soldiers for Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to be those who command good and forbid evil in all circumstances, not for the sake of a job, not by official order, and not for a salary, but by the eternal command from the side of Allah, by the command of Allah and His Messenger. So, the command of Allah and His Messenger is above everyone, above all jobs, above all orders, in every place, in the desert, in the cities, in the villages, in the airplane, in the car, in the train, in the mosque, and in every place. They should have the good intention, the sense of accountability, and energy for good, while observing gentleness and good manner, while observing forbearance and patience, and good manner in forbidding evil and calling to good, so that perhaps he may be saved, so that perhaps he may be granted success, so that perhaps his deed may be accepted.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.