Enjoin Right and Forbid Wrong

Assalaamu alaikum [peace be to you],

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISLAMIC PRINCIPLES

Commanding the proper and forbidding the improper (الأمر بالمعروف و النهي عن المنكر al-amr bilma'roof wan-nahi 'anilnunkar) is one of the most important Islamic principles, stressed again and again in the Qur'an and Hadith. Indeed, from one point of view this principle can be seen as the most important Islamic principle; for, if this principle is duly practiced in the Muslim nation, then, as a result, all other teachings of Islam will also be practiced, while if this one principle is ignored then the rest of Islam will also gradually come to be ignored.

Commanding what is right and forbidding what is wrong provides a mechanism whereby the Muslim nation can fight off various social, moral and spiritual ills and maintain a healthy and dynamic life. For an individual, too, the practice of this principle provides both a source and an indication of spiritual and moral health. If we ignore this principle and in the face of wrong we do not react in any way, then this means that in a spiritual and moral sense we are dead.


LET'S BEGIN WITH GOD AND HIS WORDS:

Commanding the proper and forbidding the improper begins with God. The Almighty said in his final Testament:
In the name of the God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and liberality to kith and kin, and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
^{translation of 16:90}
And
الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ بَعْضُهُم مِّن بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمُنكَرِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمَعْرُوفِ
The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right
^{translation of 9:67}
and
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong
^{translation of 9:71}
In these verses, the God has made the enjoining of good and forbidding of evil a characteristic with which to differentiate between the believers and the hypocrites. He makes it clear that forbidding evil and enjoining good is a trait to the believers. Indeed, it is a characteristic of the Prophets of the God. It is also a characteristic of this Muslim nation and a precondition for its virtue and success:
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ
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...
^{translation from 3:110}

Being the best of all peoples is conditional in the characteristics mentioned in the verse. "You are the best of peoples only if you enjoin good and forbid evil."
Therefore, this compliment of our nation depends on whether we enjoy these two characteristics. If we do not, we will no longer be worthy of this praise. Indeed, we will deserve chastisement and be doomed for destruction.
A famous scholar said, "You should know that this issue, the enjoining good and forbidding evil, has mostly been neglected over a long period of time. What remains of it today is but a few traces, all despite the fact that it is an important issue which lies at the heart of all affairs."
Therefore, those who seek success in the Hereafter and aspire to God's Pleasure must take note into account this issue due to its great benefit, especially since it has mostly been abandoned. He must also make intention sincere and fear no-one who may oppose his attempt. For the God says:
وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
And Allah will surely support those who support his (cause). Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
^{translation from 22:40}


LET'S TAKE HEED

It was reported that the Prophet -peace be upon him- said, "By Him in Whose Hand my life is (The God), you either enjoin good and forbid evil, or Allah will certainly soon send His punishment to you. Then you will make supplication and it will not be accepted".
To abandon the practice of enjoining virtue and forbidding vice is likely to incur the displeasure of The Almighty and the rejection of prayers and supplications.
Long long ago, the Almighty God bestowed his blessing upon the Children of Israel. He made a covenant with them to fulfill certain conditions which, if honored, would bestow upon them cer­tain advantages. He did not honor them because of their race or ancestry, but because they believed in the God and followed his commandments. they were the good Muslims of their time. They enjoined good and forbade Evil, so the God honored them and made them overpower their enemies. but after some time, when they disobeyed the God again and again and neglected enjoining good and forbidding evil, the God got angry on them and allowed their enemies to overpower them.
The God then bestowed his favors upon the Arabs and chose them to carry his message so they became the people of the God. they became Muslims and started spreading his message, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil. but History repeats itself. and indeed man is ungrateful and unjust to himself. The Muslims did not take heed from the word of the God and the tales of the past. Again they ignored the divine command. So the God got angry on them and made their enemies overpower them.
This is God's way. and there is no change in his way. he gives you power, he gives you honor, and he gives you responsibility. you neglect it and he takes his honor and power from you to give them to someone else who will step on you.

Why are Muslims weak and powerless today? All they have to do is read the Qur'an with understanding and see themselves in the wrong behaviors of the stray nations of the past. see how far they strayed from the right path and how they neglected their duties towards the God. Until they learn the lesson and return to the track, others will keep stepping on them.


there is much to be said in this topic, but I think this suffice for today.

I hope this was beneficial.



If I am right, it is from the God. if I am wrong, it is from myself.