✿ Importance of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil ✿
This content is derived from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women,” based on the fatwas of the Scholars of the Ḥaramayn, translated by Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbdullāh Salīm.
When we try to stop people—whether parents or others—from backbiting or gossiping in accordance with the duty of Amr bil-Maʿrūf wa Nahy ʿan al-Munkar (enjoining good and forbidding evil), they react harshly and become displeased with us. Are we sinful for their anger? Should we continue to stop them or leave them to their own devices?
Enjoining good and forbidding evil is among the most important religious obligations. Allah ﷻ says:
«وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ»
“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong…”
[9: At-Tawbah: 71]
This verse makes it clear that enjoining good and forbidding evil is a necessary trait of every believing man and woman.
Allah ﷻ also says:
«كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّـهِ»
“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.”
[3: Āl-ʿImrān: 110]
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
«من رأى منكم منكرا فليغيره بيده، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه، فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه، وذلك أضعف الإيمان»
“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim]
Failing to uphold this duty is a grave matter. Numerous verses and aḥādīth strongly condemn those who neglect this obligation.
So, you—and every believing man and woman—are obligated to uphold this duty, even if those being corrected get upset or insult you. Follow the example of the Prophets, who endured rejection and abuse with patience. Allah ﷻ commanded:
«فَاصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُولُو الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ»
“So be patient, [O Prophet], as were those of determination among the messengers…”
[46: Al-Aḥqāf: 35]
«وَاصْبِرُوا إِنَّ اللَّـهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ»
“And be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
[8: Al-Anfāl: 46]
Even Luqmān the Wise advised his son:
«يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَكَ»
“O my son, establish prayer, enjoin good, forbid evil, and be patient over what befalls you…”
[31: Luqmān: 17]
It is indisputable that social reform and divine support only come through enjoining good and forbidding evil. The neglect of this duty is one of the major reasons for corruption in society and for the descending of Allah’s punishment. The Prophet ﷺ said:
«إن الناس إذا رأوا المنكر فلم يغيروه أوشك أن يعمهم الله بعقابه»
“When people see evil and do not stop it, it is near that Allah will encompass them all with His punishment.”
[Musnad Aḥmad 2/1]
Allah ﷻ also warned us through the example of the Children of Israel:
«لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ... كَانُوا لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ»
“Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of Dāwūd and ʿĪsā son of Maryam... They would not forbid each other from the wrong they did. Evil indeed was what they used to do.”
[5: Al-Mā’idah: 78–79]
Therefore, continue enjoining good and forbidding evil with wisdom, gentleness, and patience. Do not be afraid of people’s displeasure or insults. Your duty is toward Allah ﷻ, not people’s approval.
May Allah grant us all—including leaders and followers—the ability to uphold this duty in the best manner, reform our conditions, and protect us from His wrath.
(Fatwa by: Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله)
This content is derived from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women,” based on the fatwas of the Scholars of the Ḥaramayn, translated by Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbdullāh Salīm.
❖ Question:
When we try to stop people—whether parents or others—from backbiting or gossiping in accordance with the duty of Amr bil-Maʿrūf wa Nahy ʿan al-Munkar (enjoining good and forbidding evil), they react harshly and become displeased with us. Are we sinful for their anger? Should we continue to stop them or leave them to their own devices?
❖ Answer:
Enjoining good and forbidding evil is among the most important religious obligations. Allah ﷻ says:
«وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ»
“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong…”
[9: At-Tawbah: 71]
This verse makes it clear that enjoining good and forbidding evil is a necessary trait of every believing man and woman.
Allah ﷻ also says:
«كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّـهِ»
“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.”
[3: Āl-ʿImrān: 110]
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
«من رأى منكم منكرا فليغيره بيده، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه، فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه، وذلك أضعف الإيمان»
“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim]
Failing to uphold this duty is a grave matter. Numerous verses and aḥādīth strongly condemn those who neglect this obligation.
So, you—and every believing man and woman—are obligated to uphold this duty, even if those being corrected get upset or insult you. Follow the example of the Prophets, who endured rejection and abuse with patience. Allah ﷻ commanded:
«فَاصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُولُو الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ»
“So be patient, [O Prophet], as were those of determination among the messengers…”
[46: Al-Aḥqāf: 35]
«وَاصْبِرُوا إِنَّ اللَّـهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ»
“And be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
[8: Al-Anfāl: 46]
Even Luqmān the Wise advised his son:
«يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَكَ»
“O my son, establish prayer, enjoin good, forbid evil, and be patient over what befalls you…”
[31: Luqmān: 17]
It is indisputable that social reform and divine support only come through enjoining good and forbidding evil. The neglect of this duty is one of the major reasons for corruption in society and for the descending of Allah’s punishment. The Prophet ﷺ said:
«إن الناس إذا رأوا المنكر فلم يغيروه أوشك أن يعمهم الله بعقابه»
“When people see evil and do not stop it, it is near that Allah will encompass them all with His punishment.”
[Musnad Aḥmad 2/1]
Allah ﷻ also warned us through the example of the Children of Israel:
«لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ... كَانُوا لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ»
“Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of Dāwūd and ʿĪsā son of Maryam... They would not forbid each other from the wrong they did. Evil indeed was what they used to do.”
[5: Al-Mā’idah: 78–79]
Therefore, continue enjoining good and forbidding evil with wisdom, gentleness, and patience. Do not be afraid of people’s displeasure or insults. Your duty is toward Allah ﷻ, not people’s approval.
May Allah grant us all—including leaders and followers—the ability to uphold this duty in the best manner, reform our conditions, and protect us from His wrath.
(Fatwa by: Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله)
