Hawzah News Agency | The Holy Qur’an considers adherence to enjoining good and forbidding evil as one of the conditions for salvation, stating:
«وَلْتَکُنْ مِنْکُمْ أُمَّةٌ یَدْعُونَ إِلَی الْخَیْرِ وَیَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَیَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْکَرِ وَأُولَٰئِکَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ.»
There has to be a nation among you summoning to the good, bidding what is right, and forbidding what is wrong. It is they who are the felicitous.(3:104)
Explanation:
There are numerous teachings in Islam that we have been advised to observe and preserve, each holding a unique status. However, among them, there is one teaching upon which the existence of all religious obligations and commands depends. Neglecting it is akin to abandoning all that is good. Regarding this, Imam al-Baqir, peace be upon him, states:
«إِنَّ اَلْأَمْرَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ اَلنَّهْیَ عَنِ اَلْمُنْکَرِ فَرِیضَةٌ عَظِیمَةٌ بِهَا تُقَامُ اَلْفَرَائِضُ.»
“Indeed, enjoining good and forbidding evil is a great obligation upon which the establishment of other obligations depends.” (Wasail al-Shia, v.16, p. 119)
This teaching, if neglected, creates a society conducive for the dominance of evil individuals over the affairs of the people. As stated by Imam Ali, peace be upon him:
«لاَ تَتْرُکُوا اَلْأَمْرَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ اَلنَّهْیَ عَنِ اَلْمُنْکَرِ فَیُوَلَّی عَلَیْکُمْ أَشْرَارُکُمْ.»
“Do not abandon enjoining good and forbidding evil, for if you neglect this significant divine obligation, the worst among you will take control of your society.” (Bihar al-Anwar, v. 97, p. 90)
This truth, highlighted by Imam Ali, peace be upon him, has repeatedly been experienced throughout history. When some people remained indifferent and silent in the face of errors, rebellion, and oppression within their communities, they ultimately fell under the rule of oppressive leaders who made their lives arduous and unbearable.
A noteworthy point that can strengthen our attention to this divine obligation is the warning by Imam Ali, peace be upon him. He considers a person who neglects enjoining good and forbidding evil to be, in reality, a living dead.
«... وَ مِنْهُمْ تَارِکٌ لِإِنْکَارِ الْمُنْکَرِ بِلِسَانِهِ وَ قَلْبِهِ وَ یَدِهِ، فَذَلِکَ مَیِّتُ الْأَحْیَاءِ.»
“There are those who neither forbid evil with their tongues, nor with their hearts, nor with their hands. These (in truth) are the dead among the living.” (Nahj al-Balaghah, Wisdom no. 374)
The pinnacle of the importance and sensitivity of enjoining good and forbidding evil can also be found in the words of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, peace and blessings of God be upon him. In Nahj al-Balaghah, he states:
«وَمَا أَعْمَالُ الْبِرِّ کُلُّهَا وَالْجِهَادُ فِی سَبِیلِ اللّهِ، عِنْدَ الْأَمْرِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّهْیِ عَنِ الْمُنْکَرِ، إِلاَّ کَنـَفْثَةٍ فِی بَحْـرٍ لُـجِّیٍّ.»
“(Know this,) all good deeds, even striving and fighting in the way of God, are like a drop of saliva compared to the vast and deep ocean of enjoining good and forbidding evil.” (Wisdom no. 374)
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