TAMBIHUL GHAAFILEEN - ADMONITION FOR THE NEGLECTFUL
by Faqih Abul Laith Samarqandi

6. ENJOINING WHAT IS RIGHT AND FORBIDDING WHAT IS EVIL

GLAD TIDINGS.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "Some people spread virtue and eradicate evil, while others spread evil and eradicate good. Glad tidings be for those whom Allah has used to spread good and terminate evil. Destruction be to those who spread evil and terminate good."

RECOGNIZING A MU´MIN AND A HYPOCRITE.

Enjoining good and forbidding evil (Amr bil Ma´roof wan Nahy anil Munkar) is the hallmark of a Mu´min. Allah says in the Qur´aan, "The believing men and the believing women are auxiliaries to each other. They enjoin good and forbid evil."

On the other hand, Allah also says, "The hypocrite men and women ail proceed from one another. They enjoin evil and forbid from good."

A REMARK BY HADHRAT ALI (R.A).

Hadhrat Ali (R.A) said, "The person who enjoins good, strengthens the firmness of the Mu´min, and the person who forbids evil, disgraces the hypocrite."

A TECHNIQUE IS REQUIRED WHEN ENJOINING GOOD.

Hadhrat Abu Darda (R.A) has mentioned that the person who advises his brother in public has humiliated him. The one who advises him in private has embellished him. (A person is more likely to accept advice given in private and will be encouraged by attempting to act thereupon).

TYRANNICAL RULERS ARE THE RESULT OF FAILURE TO ENJOIN GOOD AND FORBID EVIL.

Hadhrat Abu Darda (R.A) once said, "Oh people! Continue to practice Amr bil Ma´roof wan Nahy anil Munkar, otherwise Allah will appoint such tyrants to rule over you, who will not respect your elders and will not have mercy upon your youngsters. Then the pious amongst you will pray to Allah, but He will not accept their supplications. You will beseech His help, but He will not help you. You will seek His forgiveness, but He will not forgive you."

THE CATEGORIES OF ENJOINING GOOD AND FORBIDDING EVIL.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "When you see an evil being perpetrated, then prevent it with your hand. If you are unable to do this, then prevent it with your tongue. If you are unable to do even this, then at least consider it a vice in your heart. This is the lowest form of Imaan."

Some ulema have mentioned that rulers should forbid evil with their hands, the ulema should do so with their tongues, and the general public are those who at least consider it to be a vice.

A FASCINATING STORY.

A person was once infuriated when he noticed people worshipping a tree. He grabbed an axe and proceeded to chop it down. En route he met the accursed Iblees, who asked him where he was headed. He informed Iblees that he intended to chop the tree. Iblees bade him to leave the tree alone and let the worshippers suffer the consequences. An argument ensued and the two eventually wrestled thrice, Iblees being defeated each time.

When Iblees finally realized that he will never defeat the person, he adopted another approach. He told the person that if he left the tree to be, he would find four dirhams beneath his bed every morning. When the person hesitated, Iblees solemnly promised this for him. The person accepted the proposal and returned home. As promised, he found the four dirhams on the promised place each morning for several mornings. However, when he did not find anything for two consecutive mornings, he grabbed his axe in a fit of anger and again proceeded to the tree.

Again he met the accursed Iblees on the road. When Iblees asked him where he was going, he replied that he was on his way to cut down the tree that people were worshipping. Iblees then told him to back off because he would not allow him to proceed. Iblees said, "On the first occasion you wanted to cut the tree down for Allah´s pleasure and I would never been able to stop you despite my hardest efforts. Now you intend to chop it up on account of four dirhams. If you just take another step I will sever your head from your body!" The person was thus obliged to return home. This shows that when actions are done for Alana´s pleasures, shaytaan is humbled. When actions are done for worldly benefit, even shaytaan gets bold.

FIVE CONDITIONS FOR A PREACHER.

1. Knowledge. (An ignorant person is not worthy of preaching).
2. Sincerity. (This is the lifeblood of every act and no action is accepted without it).
3. Good character and love. (The preaching of a harsh, impolite person cannot be effective).
4. Patience and forbearance. (A preacher cannot succeed without these two qualities because he will certainly encounter many difficulties and all types of people).
5. Practice upon what he preaches. (Without this his preaching will have no effect on the masses and he will fade away due to fear of people´s taunts).

Hadhrat Hudhaifa (R.A) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "Oh people! You must practice Amr bil Ma´roof wan Nahy anil Munkar, otherwise Allah´s punishment may afflict you. Then you will supplicate to Him, but He will not accept your du´aas." [Bukhari]

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has also mentioned, "When people do not attempt to prevent an evil that they see before them, they should await Allah´s punishment." [Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja] Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) is also reported to have said, "When people do not restrain the hand of an oppressor, they should await a widespread punishment from Allah." [Abu Dawood]

Hadhrat Wahshi (R.A) was the person who killed Hadhrat Hamzah (R.A). When he intended to accept Islam, he sent a letter to Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) stating his intentions, but added that the following verse of the Qur´aan prevented him from doing so. The verse in question was, "Those who do not subscribe to another deity with Allah; do not kill those souls that Allah has forbidden except with warrant; and do not commit adultery. Whoever perpetrates these shall be a sinner."

He wrote to say that he had perpetrated all these evils, so was there any Taubah (repentance) for him?

Allah then revealed the verse, "Except for him who repents, believes and does good actions." Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) had this written and sent to Hadhrat Wahshi (R.A).

He wrote back saying that the verse stipulates the performance of good actions and he did not know whether he would be able to comply.

Thereupon Allah revealed the verse, "Verily Allah does not forgive that partners be ascribed unto Him, but forgives all besides this for whomsoever He wills." This verse was also sent to him.

He again wrote back saying that this verse stipulates that Allah will only forgive those whom He wills. He expressed doubt about whether Allah would wish to forgive him or not.

Thereafter the verse was revealed declaring, "Say, ´Oh My bondsmen who have transgressed against their souls! Do not be despondent of Allah´s mercy. Verily Allah forgives all sins. Inaction He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful."

After this verse was sent to him, he arrived in Madinah to accept Islam.