Command Good And Forbid Evil

Jazaak'Allah Khair for approved.

In summary

Maruf is what the Shariah/legislator says is good (hasan)

Munkar is what the Shariah/legislator says is ugly (qabeeh)

Allah (swt) says,

You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'ruf and forbid Al-Munkar and you believe in Allah.

[Surah Al Imran 3:110]

The believers, men and women, are Auliya (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma'ruf from Al-Munkar;

[Surah At Taubah 9:71]

The greatest munkar on a societal level is man-made law, from which emanates all other munkar.

Societal Munkar is known as Munkar Assasie (root) law and order, which is linked to peoples transactions

Individual Munkar is known as Munkar Farie (branch) linked to individuals evil action

Removing the Munkar

1. Changing munkar (tagheer al munkar) by hand/body

2. Forbidding munkar (nahi anil munkar) by tongue/talks/books, etc

3. Rejecting munkar (al bara minal munkar) by heart an d walk away (lowest level of iman)

Allah (swt) says:

Evil (sins and disobedience of Allah, etc.) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned

[Surah Ar Rum 30:41]

Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dawud (David) and Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). That was because they disobeyed (Allah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bounds.

They used not to forbid one another from the Munkar (wrong, evil?doing, sins, polytheism, disbelief, etc.) which they committed. Vile indeed was what they used to do

[Surah Al Maidah 5:78-79]

Command the good that is absent and forbid the evil that is present

Have Knowledge of ma'ruf and munkar

Need to have knowledge about ma'ruf and munkar

Allah (swt) says,

So know (O Muhammad SAW) that La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women. And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest (in your homes).

[Surah Muhammad 47:19]

The Messenger (saw) said, "at-Talibu ilmi faridatu ala kulli muslim"

Ibn Abbas said the knowledge here is: Malum minad-deen ilmud-dururah that knowledge which is known by necessity from this deen

Iman Ali said: what I know compared to what I dont know is like a needle dipped into an ocean and what it brings out.

Ibn Taimiyah said: the condition for commanding good and forbidding evil is to have knowledge of it.

Allah (swt) says,

Say: 'This is my way: I invite to Allah on/with clear knowledge

[Surah Yusuf 12:108]

Qadi Abu Yala and also Ibn Qudamah said Baseerah is to know:

The call what you are calling for

The called knowledge about the one called

Way to call knowledge on how to call

Allah (swt) says,

Invite (mankind, O Muhammad SAW) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.

[Surah An Nahl 16:125]

The Messenger (saw) said, Convey from me even one verse

Reject bidah: Whosoever does an action not based on wahie will have it rejected.

We follow the haq which is the daleel (evidence), with the correct understanding i.e. what Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah are agreed upon. We are ahlul ittibah not taqleed

Ibn Masoud narrated the Messenger (saw) said,

Never a Prophet had been sent before me by Allah towards his nation who had not among his people (his) disciples and companions who followed his ways and obeyed his command.

Then there came after them their successors who said whatever they did not practice, and practiced whatever they were not commanded to do.

He who strove against them with his hand was a believer: he who strove against them with his tongue was a believer, and he who strove against them with his heart was a believer and beyond that there is no faith even to the extent of a mustard seed.

[Muslim]

^wa iyakki sis.

Conditions to change/forbid/reject evil

1. Verify reality of the munkar

a. Is it known by necessity

b. Is the person mature

c. Is the person sane

d. Is the person Muslim

2. The Munkar must be present

a. Place of munkar e.g. casino, nightclub, sauna, etc

b. Committed on the spot e.g. drinking alcohol

c. Remains of munkar (i.e. sign of it) e.g. a woman crying shes been attacked

3. The Munkar must be public and not private haram to spy

4. The Munkar must not be a matter of dispute i.e. not known by necessity e.g. smoking

The Messenger (saw) said, "Whosoever sees evil, let him change it by his hands.."

Changing Evil by the Hand

1. The munkar must be present publicly and known by necessity and not a disputable matter

2. To change munkar by what is permissible

3. Not to lead to greater munkar

4. To have authority or divine permit

5. To have the least amount of doubt that he/she is able to change it by hand

Conditions of the Person changing evil by the hand

1. Muslim

2. Mature

3. Does not commit that munkar

Forbidding Evil by the Tongue

1. Speak kindly fear Allah (swt), take it easy, person cools down and changes

2. By preaching Allah (swt) will account you, quotes verses

3. By harsh word dare you!

The Messenger (saw) saw people playing the flute and singing, he said the Shaytan will enter the house

The Messenger (saw) never named people forbidding evil i.e. so and so did, rather he spoke generally

Rejecting Evil by the Heart

Do not sit with those mocking the deen

Allah (swt) says,

And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Qur'an) that when you hear the Verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them. Surely, Allah will collect the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell

[Surah An Nisa 4:140]

Walkway if you cannot change or forbid munkar, with hatred for it in the heart

Allah (swt) says,

And when you (Muhammad SAW) see those who engage in a false conversation about Our Verses (of the Qur'an) by mocking at them, stay away from them till they turn to another topic. And if Shaitan (Satan) causes you to forget, then after the remembrance sit not you in the company of those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong?doers, etc.).

[Surah Al An'am 6:68]

What takes Precedence

Societal munkar outweighs individual munkar

The prohibitions (tashreed) take priority over the obligations (takleef). Allah (swt) does not forgive shirk, regardless of whether you are a sheikh or not.

Benefit and Harm

Benefit what the Shariah says

Harm what the Shariah says

We have lesser of two harms, not lesser of two evils

E.g. keys locked in the car, break the small window to open the car

Hadith:

A man was given three choices 1> Fornicate with a women 2> kill a child 3> drink alcohol

He chose the 3rd because he thought it was the lesser of the evils, and ended up committing all the acts.

He should have chosen the 4th which is neither; alcohol is the mother of all evil

Verification

Dont hurry to accuse. Verify before accusing

Allah (swt) says,

O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful to what you have done.

[Surah Hujuraat 49:6]

Consequences of neglecting Command Good and Forbidding Evil

• spreading of the qabeeth (bad)
  
• hurrying the punishment of Allah (swt)
  
• cause fighting, disputing and divisions amongst the people
  
• domination of the enemy
  
• no response to duas
  
• poverty and economic crisis
  
• addiction to the prohibition
  
• deserting obligations/duties dawah and jihad
  
• total collapse of the Ummah
  
• severe punishment in the hereafter

The End