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Every Friday With Mallam Abdulfattah Enabulele Chief Imam of Benin GOVERNMENTS (especially the secular states) as well as individuals and communities are oblivious to many of these immoralities instead of commanding good and forbidding evil. The consequences are all sorts of calamities such as earthquakes, landslides, heavy rains, destructive floods, and tsunamis. These are unique and devastating natural disasters that have never been seen before. We witness strong winds, tornadoes, droughts, hurricanes, and wildfires that cause wanton destruction. Allah has reminded us about this situation in the glorious Qur’an, that we may take heed: Evil (sins and disobedience of Allah) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds), that Allah may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allah, and begging His pardon). (Qur‘an 30: 41) To be safe from the calamities listed above, a community must always contain people who. are enjoining good and forbidding evil. Otherwise, when immorality becomes widespread in a society, the punishment of Allah will follow. Thereafter, we will supplicate to Allah to remove the disasters and punishments, but our supplications will not be answered, as we have read in the hadith under discussion. The Qur’an has instructed: 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. (Qur’an in 3: 104) Commanding good and forbidding evil are conditions for being safe from all kinds of calamities, and they are sure ways to success in this life and the hereafter. On the authority of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri who said that he heard Allah’s Messenger say: Whosoever of you sees an evil action (taking place), let him change it with his hand, and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart and that is the weakest level of faith. (Muslim and Aba Dâwood) Principles of commanding good and forbidding evil While commanding good and forbidding evil, certain general principles must be followed. Otherwise, those who are trying to enjoin the right and forbid the wrong may end up causing more harm than good. The most important among those general principles are sincerity of intention, wisdom, evidence, striving hard, and patience. I. Sincerity of intention Those who strive to enjoin right and forbid wrong should do so to gain the pleasure of Allah atone. Their act should not be for fame or fortune and certainly not to show off and be seen by others as pious and free from wrongdoing. Allah and His Messenger have said, with regard to this principle: So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord let him do deeds of righteousness and associate none as partner in the worship of his Lord. (Qur’an 87:110) On the authority of the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab that he heard Allah’s Messenger saying: Actions are only by intention, and every man shall get what he intended. Thus, he whose migration was for Allah and His Messenger, his migration was for Allah and His Messenger; and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or to many some woman, his migration was for whatever he migrated for (Muslim). Those who enjoin right and forbid wrong for reasons other than the sake of Allah should be forewarned that their deeds will not be accepted. In the long run they will have wasted their efforts, energy, and time. Instead of earning rewards that would lead them to paradise, they will earn sins that would lead them to hellfire. What a great loss! This is as Allah, the Exalted has said in the Qur’an: Say (0 Muhammad): Shall we tell you of the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? (They are) those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds, Those are the ones who disbelieve in the verses of their Lord and in [their] meeting Him, so their deeds have become worthless; and We will not assign to them on the Day of
Rejoin What Is Good And Forbidding Evil (1) Resurrection any weight (importance). That is their recompense — hell — for what they denied and [because] they took My signs and My messengers in ridicule) (Qur’an 18: 103-106) Furthermore, the commanding of good and the forbidding of evil has to be done according to the way of Prophet Muhammad. In this respect, ‘A’ishah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad said: Whoever performs a (good) deed that we have not ordered (anyone) to do (or is not done in accordance with our way), then that deed will be rejected and will not be accepted. (Bukhari) 2. Wisdom Commanding right and forbidding wrong must be done with wisdom. Wisdom implies that first, people must be knowledgeable in order to assess the situation of the evil they are trying to stop. Moreover, they should ascertain whether they will be able to stop the evil or whether their actions will lead to a greater harm. If Refraining from enjoining good or forbidding evil they feel that the only way to stop a particular evil in society is by doing something that will lead to a greater harm, they are not al towed to stop that evil. People’s knowledge should help them make the correct
lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do. Qur’an 6: 108) Wisdom in this case demands gentleness, humility, and persuasion with polite words and examples of the harm that evil creates in society or the rewards that accule for doiflg good. This was the methodology o all prophets and messengers. Even when Prophet Moses (S) was sent to the Pharaoh the tyrant who had claimed to be God, subjugated the children of Israel to slavery
and do not make them difficult. (Muslim) Wisdom does not mean hiding the truth or lying to convince the people to stop their evil ways Rather, it means speaking the truth and calling a spade a spade with respect, dignity, and conviction. Allah has said that whoever is given wisdom in convincing people to stop committing evil and turn towards righteousness has been given a great deal of good; this indicates the importance of wisdom. He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding. (Qur’an 2:269) Therefore, Allah orders all those who call people towanis good and steer them away from evil to use wisdom
Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Cromwell Idahosa (on suit) in a group photo with the League of Imams, Edo State during the League’s courtesy visit to the Chief Judge.
judgement that evil is present and it needs to be removed or stopped. The knowledge will help them remove any suspicion or doubt about the evil. Wisdom also demands that the ones trying to stop the evil do not go beyond what is permissible in the Sharia; they must halt at what is necessary to stop that evil. For example, if they find a person playing a cassette tape with music on it, they may remove the tape and destroy it or record some religious material over it. However, they are not entitled to go further and destroy the cassette player if it can be used for beneficial purposes.’ if they know for sure that taking that action will create a bigger harm, then they should let the small evil goon until they have the ability to stop it without creating a greater harm. If they are not sure, then they should remember that Allah instructs us to ask those who know. Wisdom with respect to commanding good and forbidding evil means saying the right thing, at the right time, to the right person, at the right place, and in the right manner. This means we cannot use harsh or abusive language when persuading people to stop doing what is wrong. Allah has said: And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah,
and killed their male folk, sparing the females — Allah, the Exalted, the Almighty said to Prophet Moses and his brother Aaron (peace be upon them) while sending them to approach the Pharaoh: Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed. And speak to him with gentle speech, that perhaps he maybe reminded of the fear [Allah]. (Qur‘an 20: 43-44) Even in the case of Prophet Muhammad (a), Abu Moosâ alAsh’ari reported that: Whenever Allah’s Messenger used to send one of his Companions on a mission, he would say: Give good tidings and do not put people off. Make things easy
in their mission in order to be successful He hag said (Invite all to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is those Knowing of who has strayed from His Way. and life is most Knowing of who is [rightly] guided.)) (Qur an 16. 225) The third important principle of promoting virtue and combating vice is to back up whatever we are saying with authentic evidence. When we call people to change their evil conduct and turn towards good character and morality, we must give them evidence from the parameters of revelation and reason.
“Commanding good and forbidding evil are conditions for being safe from all kinds of calamities, and they are sure ways to success in this life and the hereafter”