Source: Khutbāt Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Isḥāq Zāhid
Compiled by: Tawheed.com
If we take a brief look at our society, it becomes evident that moral degradation and sinful behavior have spread widely. Two fundamental reasons stand out: weakness in faith and negligence in the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil. This article addresses the second issue, aiming to explain its importance, virtues, benefits, the dangerous consequences of neglecting it, and the required conditions and ranks of performing this duty—all in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah. The goal is to help every Muslim understand and fulfill this duty according to their capacity so that society can move toward reform.
Every individual is responsible to some extent, but there must also be a group of knowledgeable and wise individuals who understand right and wrong and guide others accordingly.
Prophetic Saying:
“Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock.”
Allah says:
﴿وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ﴾
(Āl-ʿImrān 3:104)
Translation:
Let there be a group among you who call to righteousness, enjoin good, and forbid evil. It is they who will be successful.
Allah says:
﴿كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ﴾
(Āl-ʿImrān 3:110)
Translation:
You are the best nation ever raised for mankind—you enjoin good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah.
﴿مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ...﴾ (Āl-ʿImrān 3:113–114)
This verse praises a group among the People of the Book who:
﴿وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ... يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ﴾
(al-Tawbah 9:71)
Translation:
Believing men and women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil...
This is one of the traits of those who receive Allah’s mercy.
﴿التَّائِبُونَ الْعَابِدُونَ... الْآمِرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّاهُونَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ...﴾
(al-Tawbah 9:112)
These are the traits of the believers, ending with:
“Those who enjoin good and forbid evil... give glad tidings to such believers.”
﴿خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ﴾
(al-Aʿrāf 7:199)
“Show forgiveness, enjoin what is right, and turn away from the ignorant.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you must sit in pathways, then give the path its rights,” which includes:
A person who enjoins good and forbids evil is promised protection from the Fire.
Even saying a word of good or preventing evil is recorded as charity.
Fasting, prayer, charity, and enjoining good erase sins from daily life.
﴿وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ...﴾
(al-Nisāʾ 4:114)
Whoever does it seeking Allah’s pleasure will receive a great reward.
Speaking the truth before a tyrant is the greatest form of jihad.
The person must:
﴿قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ﴾ (Yūsuf 12:108)
Call to Allah with insight.
Even with Pharaoh, Allah instructed:
﴿فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَيِّنًا﴾ (Ṭā Hā 20:44)
“Speak to him mildly.”
Also:
﴿ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ﴾ (al-Naḥl 16:125)
There will be trials. One must remain patient.
﴿وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ﴾ (al-ʿAṣr)
﴿وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَكَ﴾ (Luqmān 31:17)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever sees evil, let him change it with his hand; if unable, then with his tongue; if unable, then hate it in his heart, and that is the weakest of faith.”
The article concludes that no society can become pure and reformed without this obligation. It is mandatory upon every Muslim to act according to their capacity, especially upon scholars, parents, and leaders. By fulfilling this duty with wisdom, gentleness, and patience, we can receive Allah’s mercy and safeguard our society from corruption.
May Allah grant us the ability to fulfill this great obligation sincerely and save us from hypocrisy.
Āmīn Yā Rabb al-ʿĀlamīn.
Compiled by: Tawheed.com
If we take a brief look at our society, it becomes evident that moral degradation and sinful behavior have spread widely. Two fundamental reasons stand out: weakness in faith and negligence in the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil. This article addresses the second issue, aiming to explain its importance, virtues, benefits, the dangerous consequences of neglecting it, and the required conditions and ranks of performing this duty—all in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah. The goal is to help every Muslim understand and fulfill this duty according to their capacity so that society can move toward reform.
❖ The Importance of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
- It is one of the most important obligations in Islam.
- If everyone fulfilled this duty according to their ability, evil would decrease significantly in society.
- If Islamic governments implemented this duty, society could be cleansed of many evils.
- Commanding good instills a love for righteousness, and forbidding evil generates hatred for sin.
- This duty revives Sunnah and eradicates innovations, strengthens the righteous, and weakens the corrupt.
- Abandoning this duty leads to the dominance of evil, causing further chaos and corruption in society.
Every individual is responsible to some extent, but there must also be a group of knowledgeable and wise individuals who understand right and wrong and guide others accordingly.
Prophetic Saying:
“Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
❖ Calling to Goodness is the Path to Success
Allah says:
﴿وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ﴾
(Āl-ʿImrān 3:104)
Translation:
Let there be a group among you who call to righteousness, enjoin good, and forbid evil. It is they who will be successful.
❖ The Foundation of the Ummah’s Excellence
Allah says:
﴿كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ﴾
(Āl-ʿImrān 3:110)
Translation:
You are the best nation ever raised for mankind—you enjoin good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah.
❖ Praise of the Righteous from the People of the Book
﴿مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ...﴾ (Āl-ʿImrān 3:113–114)
This verse praises a group among the People of the Book who:
- Stand firm on truth
- Recite the verses of Allah
- Perform prayer at night
- Believe in Allah and the Last Day
- Enjoin good and forbid evil
- Compete in righteous deeds
❖ A Collective Duty of Believing Men and Women
﴿وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ... يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ﴾
(al-Tawbah 9:71)
Translation:
Believing men and women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil...
This is one of the traits of those who receive Allah’s mercy.
❖ Part of the True Believers’ Qualities
﴿التَّائِبُونَ الْعَابِدُونَ... الْآمِرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّاهُونَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ...﴾
(al-Tawbah 9:112)
These are the traits of the believers, ending with:
“Those who enjoin good and forbid evil... give glad tidings to such believers.”
❖ A Command Even to the Prophet ﷺ
﴿خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ﴾
(al-Aʿrāf 7:199)
“Show forgiveness, enjoin what is right, and turn away from the ignorant.”
❖ Duty Even While Sitting in Public Paths
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you must sit in pathways, then give the path its rights,” which includes:
- Lowering the gaze
- Not causing harm
- Returning greetings
- Enjoining good
- Forbidding evil
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2465, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2121
❖ Virtues & Benefits of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
➊ Salvation from Hellfire
A person who enjoins good and forbids evil is promised protection from the Fire.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1007
➋ Every Act is a Charity
Even saying a word of good or preventing evil is recorded as charity.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1006
➌ Atonement for Sins
Fasting, prayer, charity, and enjoining good erase sins from daily life.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1435, Muslim: 144
➍ Great Reward
﴿وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ...﴾
(al-Nisāʾ 4:114)
Whoever does it seeking Allah’s pleasure will receive a great reward.
➎ The Best Form of Jihād
Speaking the truth before a tyrant is the greatest form of jihad.
Reference: Sunan Ibn Mājah: 4011, Tirmidhī: 2174
❖ Conditions for Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
❀ Condition 1: Knowledge
The person must:
- Know what is actually good or evil according to Qur'an and Sunnah.
- Avoid acting on hearsay, customs, or personal opinion.
﴿قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ﴾ (Yūsuf 12:108)
Call to Allah with insight.
❀ Condition 2: Gentleness and Wisdom
Even with Pharaoh, Allah instructed:
﴿فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَيِّنًا﴾ (Ṭā Hā 20:44)
“Speak to him mildly.”
Also:
﴿ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ﴾ (al-Naḥl 16:125)
❀ Condition 3: Patience
There will be trials. One must remain patient.
﴿وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ﴾ (al-ʿAṣr)
﴿وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَكَ﴾ (Luqmān 31:17)
❖ Levels of Forbidding Evil
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever sees evil, let him change it with his hand; if unable, then with his tongue; if unable, then hate it in his heart, and that is the weakest of faith.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 49
❖ Practical Examples from Qur'an & Sunnah
- By Hand:
- Prophet Ibrāhīm عليه السلام broke the idols.
- Prophet Mūsā عليه السلام destroyed the golden calf.
- Prophet ﷺ removed idols during the conquest of Makkah.
- By Tongue:
- Correcting someone who eats with the left hand.
- Teaching a child eating etiquette.
- Advising against lowering one’s garments.
- By Heart:
- Every believer must, at the very least, disapprove of evil internally.
❖ Consequences of Abandoning This Duty
- Collective punishment
(al-Anfāl 8:25) - Only those who forbade evil are saved
(al-Aʿrāf 7:165) - Supplications not accepted
(Ibn Mājah: 4004) - Example of the sinking ship (hadith)
(al-Bukhārī: 2493) - Curse for not forbidding evil
(al-Māʾidah 5:79) - Seeking people's pleasure over Allah’s anger leads to disgrace
(Targhīb wa Tarhīb: 2250)
❖ The Importance of Personal Practice (Qudwah Ḥasanah)
- One must practice what they preach.
- Prophet Shuʿayb عليه السلام said:
﴿وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَىٰ مَا أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ﴾ (Hūd 11:88) - Condemnation of hypocrisy in:
- al-Baqarah 2:44
- al-Ṣaff 61:2–3
- Severe punishment for preachers who fail to practice:
- Hadith of intestines outside the body in Hell (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3267)
- Hadith of lips being cut by iron scissors (Night of Miʿrāj)
❖ Conclusion
The article concludes that no society can become pure and reformed without this obligation. It is mandatory upon every Muslim to act according to their capacity, especially upon scholars, parents, and leaders. By fulfilling this duty with wisdom, gentleness, and patience, we can receive Allah’s mercy and safeguard our society from corruption.
May Allah grant us the ability to fulfill this great obligation sincerely and save us from hypocrisy.
Āmīn Yā Rabb al-ʿĀlamīn.
