Toggle above to switch between keyword search and direct hadith lookup
الفتح الربانی
Fath al-Rabbani
مسائل الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكرIssues of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
بَابُ التَّرْغِيبِ فِيهِ وَمَا جَاءَ فِي فَضْلِهِ وَتَوَابٍ فَاعِلِهِChapter on encouragement for it, what has been narrated regarding its virtue, and the reward for the doer
Hadith 9525
اُردوEn
عَنْ طَارِقٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ أَيُّ الْجِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ كَلِمَةُ حَقٍّ عِنْدَ إِمَامٍ (وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ سُلْطَانٍ) جَائِرٍ
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Tariq (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man came to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked: Which jihad is the most virtuous? He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: Speaking the word of truth before a tyrant ruler.
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … By “the word of truth” is meant saying something that enjoins good (amr bil ma‘ruf) and forbids evil (nahi ‘anil munkar). The reason this is considered the best form of jihad is that a warrior who fights the enemy has hope of victory and dominance, as well as fear of defeat and being overcome. But the person who presents the word of truth before a tyrannical king is thrusting himself into destruction; he soon finds himself compelled and subdued in the presence of the king, except as Allah wills. Allah the Exalted, describing the qualities of His beloved and loving servants, said: {وَلَایَخَافُوْنَ لَوْمَۃَ لَائِمٍ ذَالِکَ فَضْلُ اللّٰہِ یُؤْتِیْہِ مَنْ یَّشَائُ } (Surah al-Ma’idah: 54) … “They do not fear the blame of any blamer; that is the grace of Allah, which He bestows upon whom He wills.”
Until the people of faith are characterized by this quality and express sincere emotions for the sake of Allah the Exalted, they cannot taste the sweetness and delight of faith. In societies where evils and indecencies become widespread, and where society is not even willing to acknowledge these as evils, remaining steadfast upon righteousness against them and adhering to the commands of Allah the Exalted in such circumstances is not possible without this praiseworthy quality. Otherwise, there are dozens of people who wish to keep themselves away from evil and social corruption, but they do not have the strength to face the reproachers. As a result, they become entangled in the mire of these evils and, considering the mixture of truth and falsehood as Islam, make a futile attempt to satisfy themselves, and remain deprived of the true love of Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
To proclaim truth and justice before false-worshippers like Pharaoh and Nimrod—who cannot tolerate opponents even for a moment and leave no stone unturned in causing them harm—is not only a matter of great courage but is tantamount to courting death. In any case, giving precedence to Allah the Exalted and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam over the harm caused by these oppressors is superior; this is why the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, by declaring this the best jihad, has encouraged us to always be ready to offer this sacrifice.
Until the people of faith are characterized by this quality and express sincere emotions for the sake of Allah the Exalted, they cannot taste the sweetness and delight of faith. In societies where evils and indecencies become widespread, and where society is not even willing to acknowledge these as evils, remaining steadfast upon righteousness against them and adhering to the commands of Allah the Exalted in such circumstances is not possible without this praiseworthy quality. Otherwise, there are dozens of people who wish to keep themselves away from evil and social corruption, but they do not have the strength to face the reproachers. As a result, they become entangled in the mire of these evils and, considering the mixture of truth and falsehood as Islam, make a futile attempt to satisfy themselves, and remain deprived of the true love of Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
To proclaim truth and justice before false-worshippers like Pharaoh and Nimrod—who cannot tolerate opponents even for a moment and leave no stone unturned in causing them harm—is not only a matter of great courage but is tantamount to courting death. In any case, giving precedence to Allah the Exalted and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam over the harm caused by these oppressors is superior; this is why the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, by declaring this the best jihad, has encouraged us to always be ready to offer this sacrifice.
