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‫المر با المعروف و نهى عن المنكر‬

(Enjoining good and forbidding evil)

Islam is not a new religion that was established 14 centuries ago by the Prophet
Muhammad but is rather a continuation of the same message that Allah Almighty
revealed to all his Prophets and Messengers beginning with the first man Adam .

Through the passage of time this divine system of guidance became corrupted and
was in turn renewed and re-invigorated by each successive Prophet culminating in the
Seal of the Prophets Muhammad who was sent as a mercy to all mankind, with a
final guidance valid for all times and ages to come till the day of judgement.

In common with the other two Abrahamic faiths i.e. Judaism & Christianity, the
teachings of Islam contains a set of rules and regulations; Shariah1 which rather than
being an end in itself is more of a means to an end. The objectives in this case being
the refinement and purification of society, the eradication of vice and evil in all
manifestations, and the creation of an atmosphere conducive to good conduct and
deeds.

Allah Almighty in his infinite wisdom has deputed man as his vicegerent on earth:

“Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: ‘I will create a vicegerent on earth.”2

After being promoted to such an elevated position humans are responsible for both
upholding good conduct themselves (i.e. performing good deeds and shunning evil)
and also calling other fellow humans to the same model of conduct.

Muslims are not an insular community who neither remain aloof from worldly affairs
like the monks of Christianity nor are they completely absorbed in the world like
faithless people who have no belief in life after death. Instead the Muslim community
was instructed by Allah Almighty through the Holy Quran and teachings of The
Prophet Muhammad to adopt a middle path between both extremes in all areas of
life. By combining both the Deen and Dunya (religious and worldly spheres) Muslims
can create an impression both through their conduct and Nasiha (advice) that creates
an impetus for society to change for the better.

Much of humanity through the lack of access to revealed religion and corruption in
the original Abrahamic faiths are unable to uphold the huge responsibility as
vicegerent placed upon them by their creator Allah Almighty.

Allah therefore addresses Muslims (Specifically the Ummah (Nation) of Muhammad


in the following verse of the Holy Quran:

1
Lit: The Path
2
Al-Quran / Baqarah (2:30)
Ye are the best of Peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding
what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had Faith, it
were best for them: among them are some who have Faith, but most of them are
perverted transgressors.3

Although Allah Almighty has specified Muslims as the best of peoples among all
mankind, this superiority is conditional upon the following three qualities:

• Enjoining what is right (Good and righteous conduct and deeds)


• Forbidding what is wrong (All unlawful acts of vice, evil and transgression)
• Belief in Allah

As long as Muslims hold fast to these three principles and adopt them in their daily
lives, they are blessed with qualitative superiority by Allah Almighty. Those Muslims
who fail to abide by these regulations can claim no such distinction from the rest of
mankind.

This is one of the principle verses of the Quran from which the concept of
‫المر با المعروف و نهى عن المنكر‬4 (Enjoining good and forbidding evil) is derived. The
following is a word by word explanation of the concept:
• ‫المر‬: (Order, Command): Depending on the social level of the individual the
nature of the command also varies accordingly. For those in authority and a
position of power such as a ruler of a state or a local governor, or parents it is
in the form of a direct law or command to their subject peoples or children.
While in the case of a friend, sibling, or colleague it can only take the form of
sincere advice as the element of authority is lacking in such relationships.
• ‫المعروف‬: (Known, Famous): Ways of good conduct, deeds and behaviour that
are so well known and universally valued that no elaboration is necessary.
Theft, Murder, Slander, Lies, etc. are universally known as evil traits among
all peoples of the world. Likewise Truth, Charity, Peace, Fidelity etc. are
universally cherished values of good.
• ‫نهى‬: (Forbiddance): As in the case of ‫ المر‬ability to forbid others from evil
varies according to the level of authority. Those in a position of means and
power are able to stamp out evil with an iron fist. While those lacking such
means have to resort to sincere advice, mild rebukes and abandonment
according to the severity of the deed.
• ‫المنكر‬: (Detestable, Outrageous, Rejected): All acts of evil condemned by Allah
in The Holy Quran and forbidden by the Holy Prophet These are both a
danger to the perpetrator as well as being a menace to society at large.

Using the above the Islamic concept of ‫ المر با المعروف و نهى عن المنكر‬can be summed
up as commanding/advising others to good(Public5) conduct and
forbidding/dissuading them from evil conduct.

3
Al-Quran / Aal- Imran (3:110)
4
Literal Tr. Order with (that which is) known and forbiddance from detestable/outrageous
5
Private vice and evil is a matter between the perpetrator and Allah. ‫ المر با المعروف و نهى عن المنكر‬is a
social concept concerned with the preservation of good and eradication of evil from society as a whole.
Hence efforts by certain countries that have created departments of Vice & Virtue and intrude into
peoples private lives are misguided and have no precedent in Islamic History.
Following are some other verses of the Quran6 dealing with the concept of
‫ المر با المعروف و نهى عن المنكر‬in numerical order together with a brief explanation:

• Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good,
enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: they are the ones to
attain felicity.7 (While this is a clear justification for a group of people to
actively propagate the concept of ‫ المر با المعروف و نهى عن المنكر‬it has been
misused in recent times by certain extremist elements who have failed to
distinguish between the public and private domains of fellow Muslims.
• They believe in Allah and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid
what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: they are
in the ranks of the righteous.8 Upholding the concept of Enjoining good and
forbidding evil is one of the qualities of those who are righteous. And they
always hasten to uphold the values of justice and performance of good deeds.
• In most of their secret talks there is no good; but if one exhorts to a deed of
charity or justice or conciliation between men, (secrecy is permissible): to
him who does this, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, We shall soon give a
reward of the highest (value).9 (In most cases there is little benefit in secret
talk unless it is for creating peace between fellow men or encouraging others
towards charity or upholding justice. If the intention in doing the above is
solely seeking the pleasure of Allah, then Allah Almighty would grant that
person a deserving reward.)
• Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; but turn away from the
ignorant.10(According to the Mufassireen11of the Holy Quran this verse is
addressed to the Prophet Muhammad , advising him to be benevolent towards
the Muslims, always commanding what is right but not punishing those who
are foolish and insolently disrespectful due to their ignorance.)
• The Hypocrites, men and women, (have an understanding) with each other:
they enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and are close with their hands. They
have forgotten Allah; so He hath forgotten them. Verily the Hypocrites are
rebellious and perverse.12(Hypocrites do the exact opposite of what Muslims
have been commanded to do; they enjoin evil instead of good and forbid what
is just as opposed to what is evil. They are miserly in spending in the way of
Allah i.e. charity, alms etc. They are the most perverse of people who have a
pact committed to spreading evil.
• The Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: they enjoin
what is just and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice
regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour
His Mercy: for Allah is exalted in power, Wise.13 (The Quranic command of
Enjoining good and forbidding evil is equally valid for both men and women.
The believers are like one strong wall whose bricks add strength to each other.

6
Translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali
7
Al-Quran / Aal-Imran (3:104)
8
Al-Quran / Aal-Imran (3:110)
9
Al-Quran / An-Nisa (4:114)
10
Al-Quran / Al- ‘Araf (7:199)
11
Commentators
12
Al-Quran / At-Tauba (9:67)
13
Al-Quran / At-Tauba (9:71)
They constantly encourage each other towards good acts and dissuade others
from evil.
• Those that turn (to Allah) in repentance; that serve Him, and praise Him;
that wander in devotion to the Cause of Allah; that bow down and prostrate
themselves in prayer; that enjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the
limits set by Allah; (these do rejoice). So proclaim the glad tidings to the
Believers.14 (Such are the qualities of those believers whose lives Allah
Almighty has purchased for Paradise. They are the successful ones who
perform the obligatory duties and worship Allah. They avoid falling into the
unlawful and obey the supreme lawmaker’s limits.)
• (They are) those who, if We establish them in the land, establish regular
prayer and give regular charity, enjoin the right and forbid wrong: with
Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs. 15 (An example is made of
those people who when given Authority & Power (Government) in the land do
not neglect the obligations of Islam and uphold justice by ruling by Allah’s
law. They encourage virtue and eradicate evil. Allah Almighty is the supreme
lawmaker; man is only the enforcer of that law.16
• "O my son! establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is
wrong; and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee; for this is
firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs.17 (The Hakeem18 or
according to some scholars Prophet Luqman advises his son to be steadfast on
the path of righteousness and patiently bear any adversity he encounters on
such a path. He gives his son the same advice rendered by all Prophets and
wise men; to establish worship of their Lord Allah and advise others towards
good deeds while restraining them from what is clearly wrong.)

Second only to the Quran as a source of legislation and guidance are the Ahadith
(Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ) Listed below are various Ahadith dealing with
the subject of ‫ المر با المعروف و نهى عن المنكر‬compiled from the authentic Sahih Sitta19
books of Hadith:

• Narrated By Jabir bin ‘Abdullah: The Prophet said, Enjoining, all that is
good is a Sadaqa."20 (Sadaqa among common usage is known as monetary
alms, the Prophet however specified that even advising towards good deeds
is charity.)

• Narrated By Abu Said Al-Khudri : The Prophet said, 'Beware! Avoid


sitting on the roads." They (the people) said, "O Allah s Apostle ! We can't
help sitting (on the roads) as these are (our places) here we have talks." The

14
Al-Quran / At-Tauba (9:112)
15
Al-Quran / Al-Hajj (22:41)
16
This is a revelation for those so called Islamic regimes that refuse to rule by Allah’s law and instead
enforce Non-Muslim systems of governance and laws. They were granted power by Allah’s leave, yet
refuse to rule by his laws.
17
Al-Quran / Luqman (31:17)
18
Wise Man
19
Namely Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Tirmidhi, Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan Nisai and Sunan
Ibn-e-Majah.
20
Sahih Bukhari Volume 008, Book 073, Hadith Number 050
Prophet said, ' l f you refuse but to sit, then pay the road its right ' They
said, "What is the right of the road, O Allah's Apostle ?" He said,
'Lowering your gaze, refraining from harming others, returning greeting,
and enjoining what is good, and forbidding what is evil."21 (Normally those
who congregate on roads and passageways are a hindrance and nuisance to
others. In case of necessity it is allowed to get together in such places as long
as the public benefits by their presence).
• Shaqiq reported that it was said to Usama b. Zaid: Why don't you visit
'Uthman and talk to him? Thereupon he said: Do you think that I have not
talked to him but that I have made you hear? By Allah. I have talked to him
(about things) concerning me and him and I did not like to divulge those
things about which I had to take the initiative and I do not say to my ruler:
"You are the best among people," after I beard Allah's Messenger as
saying: A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown in
Hell-Fire and his intestines will pour forth in Hell and he will go round
along with them, as an ass goes round the mill-stone. The denizens of Hell
would gather round him and say: O, so and so, what has happened to you?
Were you not enjoining us to do what was reputable and forbid us to do
what was disreputable? He will say: Of course, it is so; I used to enjoin
(upon people) to do what was reputable but did not practise that myself. I
had been forbidding people to do what was disreputable, but practised it
myself.22 (Hypocrisy among people takes various forms; among them is the
action of not practicing what one preaches. This is truly condemnable
behaviour, hence the severe punishment described by the Prophet in the
above Hadith.)
• Narrated By Abdullah ibn Mas'ud : The Apostle of Allah said: The first
defect that permeated Banu Isra'il was that a man (of them) met another
man and said: O so-and-so, fear Allah, and abandon what you are doing,
for it is not lawful for you. He then met him the next day and that did not
prevent him from eating with him, drinking with him and sitting with him.
When they did so. Allah mingled their hearts with each other. He then
recited the verse: "curses were pronounced on those among the children of
Isra'il who rejected Faith, by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of
Mary"...up to "wrongdoers”. He then said: By no means, I swear by Allah,
you must enjoin what is good and prohibit what is evil, prevent the
wrongdoer, bend him into conformity with what is right, and restrict him to
what is right.23 (Advice is the first stage in bringing people round from evil
toward good deeds. In the case of those who are stubborn in their attitude and
continue to transgress the limits prescribed by Allah Almighty it is
recommended to abandon them for ones own safety. Not doing so will further
embolden them towards evil.)

21
Sahih Bukhari Volume 008, Book 074, Hadith Number 248
22
Sahih Muslim Book 42 Hadith No. 7122 Chapter: The Punishment of one who Commands others to
do good but does not do it himself and he forbids others to do evil but does not himself refrain from it.
23
Sunan Abu Dawud Book 32 Hadith No. 4322

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