Can a Person with Imperfect Practice Call Others to Enjoin Good and Forbid Evil?
Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 71
If a person sometimes prays and observes ḥijāb at home and sometimes neglects them, yet advises his household regarding these matters, and also speaks about implementing Qur’an and Sunnah in the home but in reality it is not fully practiced — can such a person speak publicly about the rule of Qur’an and Sunnah and call others to religion?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿قوا أَنفُسَكُم وأهليكم نارًا﴾
"Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire." [Al-Taḥrīm: 6]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«بلغوا عني ولو آية»
"Convey from me, even if it is just one verse." [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3461]
Conclusion:
Yes — a person who is not yet perfect in his own practice may still invite others to Qur’an and Sunnah, while at the same time continuing his personal efforts to improve.
وَالله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 71
Question:
If a person sometimes prays and observes ḥijāb at home and sometimes neglects them, yet advises his household regarding these matters, and also speaks about implementing Qur’an and Sunnah in the home but in reality it is not fully practiced — can such a person speak publicly about the rule of Qur’an and Sunnah and call others to religion?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
- Every Muslim is obliged to enjoin good (amr bil-ma‘rūf) and forbid evil (nahy ‘anil-munkar) according to his capacity.
- Guidance is solely in the hand of Allah ﷻ; our duty is to advise and to convey.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿قوا أَنفُسَكُم وأهليكم نارًا﴾
"Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire." [Al-Taḥrīm: 6]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«بلغوا عني ولو آية»
"Convey from me, even if it is just one verse." [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3461]
Key Points:
- A person is not accountable for the deeds of others.
- Every Muslim should strive to act upon good himself and invite others towards it, even if his own practice is incomplete.
- It is wrong to use one’s own shortcomings as an excuse to abandon advising others — both personal reform and calling others should go together.
Conclusion:
Yes — a person who is not yet perfect in his own practice may still invite others to Qur’an and Sunnah, while at the same time continuing his personal efforts to improve.
وَالله أعلم بالصواب
