Enjoining good and forbidding evil: Is it obligatory for one who possesses insight, knowledge, and understanding?
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Question:
Is it permissible for ordinary people to enjoin good and forbid evil?
Answer:
Answer: No, one should not enjoin good and forbid evil unless he has knowledge of what evil is and what good is. As for the ignorant person, he may enjoin evil and forbid good due to his ignorance. It is necessary that he be upon insight: “Say, ‘This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me.’” It is necessary that the one who enjoins good and forbids evil have insight and knowledge; otherwise, he will corrupt more than he repairs. Similarly, those who call to Allah must have knowledge of what they are calling to; otherwise, they will corrupt more than they repair. Therefore, only people who have knowledge and insight into matters are appointed to the hisbah (supervision of public morals).
Is it permissible for ordinary people to enjoin good and forbid evil?
Answer:
Answer: No, one should not enjoin good and forbid evil unless he has knowledge of what evil is and what good is. As for the ignorant person, he may enjoin evil and forbid good due to his ignorance. It is necessary that he be upon insight: “Say, ‘This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me.’” It is necessary that the one who enjoins good and forbids evil have insight and knowledge; otherwise, he will corrupt more than he repairs. Similarly, those who call to Allah must have knowledge of what they are calling to; otherwise, they will corrupt more than they repair. Therefore, only people who have knowledge and insight into matters are appointed to the hisbah (supervision of public morals).
Source
www.alfawzan.af.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.