Ar. - The obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil

Ar. - The obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil

May 18, '10 10:14 AM by Nasrin for everyone

Category:	Books
Genre:	Religion & Spirituality
Author:	Shaykh Abdul Azeez bin Bazz

I bought this book with the last book, 10 advice on memorization, and Alhamdulilah i finished it last night. It wasn't that hard of a book to understand in whole alhamdulillah. there were some words here and there that i didn't know but it was ok.

this book was published in English by alhujjahpublication and you can buy it from there site for $5 dollars, Click here
and you can buy it from rimarket.net for $4 dollars and there are only 2 copies left Click here

I didn't want the english copy so i bought the arabic and it took me a while to buy it as well since the book was out of stock for a long time, alhamdulillah i was managed to get it recently. alhamdulillah.

here is little excerpt from alhujjahpublication from the book:

As for those who enjoin the good and forbid the evil for other purposes like showing off or to be heard or a worldly significance or for any other reasons or even to oppose the act of enjoining the good and perpetrating the evil then they are the filthiest of mankind and from the evilest who will face a severe consequence.

And in the two Saheeh [authentic collections of prophetic narrations] from Usaamah bin Zayd from the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam that he said:

A man will be brought forward on the Day of Resurrection and thrown in the hellfire. The insides of his stomach will be hanging out. He will circle around the hellfire the same way that a donkey circles around the grain grinder. The people of the hellfire will gather around him and say, ?What has happened to you O such and such person? Did you not used to enjoin the good and forbid the evil?? And he will say to them, ?Certainly but I used to command you to enjoin the good but not do it myself and I would forbid the evil amongst you and fall into it myself.?

-=============- The book was very beneficial maashaaAllah. i liked one part of the book very much than other parts. Shaykh started the book pointing out the great status that this obligation has, "the commanding of the good and the forbidding of the evil".

Shaykh brought in verses of the Qur'an where Allah mentions this obligation even before the Emaan to show how important this obligation is. Like in this aya: You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), and you believe in Allâh. (Aali Imran 3:110)

then shaykh mention why it is so important in this times of ours, because of the great corruption there is in the society and great numbers of callers to falsehood and little number of caller to good. Shaykh said that this obligation was carried out during the time of the prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam and in the time of the sahabah and the salaf, and after them this obligation to be carried is even greater.

then shaykh mentions that this ummah is called best because they enjoin good and forbid evil.

shaykh then mentions that this obligation was present in the past nations as well and the origin of enjoining good is, tawheed of Allah and sincerity to Him and the origin of forbidding evil is shikr with Allah and worshiping other than Him.

then shaykh brings in ayah to show that Allah revoked the previous nations because they left off this obligation. like in these ayat: Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dawûd (David) and 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). That was because they disobeyed (Allâh and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bounds. (Al-Ma'idah 5:78) They used not to forbid one another from the Munkar (wrong, evil­doing, sins, polytheism, disbelief, etc.) which they committed. Vile indeed was what they used to do. (Al-Ma'idah 5:79)

and shaykh also brought up this ayah: Not all of them are alike; a party of the people of the Scripture stand for the right, they recite the Verses of Allâh during the hours of the night, prostrating themselves in prayer. (Aali Imran 3:113) They believe in Allâh and the Last Day; they enjoin Al-Ma'rûf (Islâmic Monotheism, and following Prophet Muhammad SAW) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and opposing Prophet Muhammad SAW); and they hasten in (all) good works; and they are among the righteous. (Aali Imran 3:114) And whatever good they do, nothing will be rejected of them; for Allâh knows well those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - see V.2:2). (Aali Imran 3:115)

to show that Allah praised a party of the previous nation because they used to carry out this obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil. this party were not touched by what touched the other party that has been cursed by their prophets alayhim as salam.

then shaykh brings other ayas to show its greatness and then shaykh mentions that carrying out this obligation brings about much good, and virtues and reduces the evil and leads to struggling for the sake of Allah and absence of carrying out this obligation leads to corruption and evil increases and caller to falsehood increases as is the case in every place.

The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden); they perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give the Zakât, and obey Allâh and His Messenger. Allâh will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise. (At-Tawbah 9:71)

after mentioning this aya shaykh mentions the mercy of Allah is obtained only by obeying Allah and His Rasul and not by lineage nor with wealth or businesses.

then shaykh says those who truly magnify Allah and truly fears him and truly hopes in Him are those who establishes His Commands, and follows His Shari'ah and those who struggles in His path and those who enjoin good and forbid evil. as Allah said, Verily, those who have believed, and those who have emigrated (for Allâh's Religion) and have striven hard in the Way of Allâh, all these hope for Allâh's Mercy. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful. (Al-Baqarah 2:218)

then shaykh says that Allah restricted success to those who enjoin good and forbid evil as Allah says, Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islâm), enjoining Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful. (Aali Imran 3:104)

then shaykh shows the importance of acting on the good that one calls to and leaving the haram that one forbids and brings the hadith that is mentioned in the beginning to show the end of doing otherwise.

then shaykh says that the obligation on every muslim to call to good while acting on that good and forbidding evil while leaving that evil.

then shaykh mentions that it is an obligation upon this ummah to rush to this obligation and then shaykh brings ahadeeth that shows the levels of carrying out this obligation, i.e. the hadith where prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam says, whoever sees evil let him forbid with his hand, if not then with his tongue, if not then with his heart and that is the weakest [state] of the emaan"

then shaykh goes on to explain each of the 3 levels, 1. by hand, 2. by tongue, and 3. by heart.

then shaykh says that one should be gentle in carrying out this obligation and brings in ahadeeth to show that our Prophet ordered us to be gentle and Allah loves gentleness in all matters.


And argue not with the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), unless it be in (a way) that is better (with good words and in good manner, inviting them to Islâmic Monotheism with His Verses), except with such of them as do wrong," (Al-'Ankabut 29:46)

shaykh brings up this ayah and says Allah has ordered us to call the people of the book with what is better, and they are the jews and christians, and they are kuffar except those who wronged as for them there is another way to treat them, and shaykh brings in ayah that says the reward of evil is evil like it.. but shaykh says still calling is established and should be with what is best as it is nearness to good.

then shaykh brings in the narration of sufyan ath.thawee where he said, it is necessary that the one who calls to good should be gentle in calling to good and should be gentle in forbidding evil and should be just in calling to good and forbidding evil and should be knowledgeable in calling to good and forbidding evil.

and then shaykh says the meaning of the salaf's saying is that the gentleness should be with knowledge, forbearance and insight [baseerah]. do not order nor forbid except with knowledge, not with ignorance, with that being gentle and acting on what is called to and leaving what is being forbidden until one is model for it.

then shaykh mentions under 3rd level [hating with heart] a narration from ibn masud where some people said to him, "i am destroyed if i do not enjoin good nor forbid evil", so ibn masud said to him, "you are destroyed if your heart doesn't know good and doesn't hate evil"

so shaykh says it is necessary to know good by learning the deen and understanding it, and necessary to know evil like that as well and after that carry out enjoining good and forbidding evil. then shaykh says learning the dene is from the sign of happiness and that Allah wants good for the person, as came in the hadith and shaykh mentions them as well.

then shaykh gives advice on seeking knowledge and reading and learning and memorizing and contemplating of the Qur'an, and then shaykh says that all students of knowledge should strive to memorize books like 40 hadith of annawawee and then ummdatul ahkam and then bolugh almaram and shaykh says this is great good and blessing from Allah if one could memorize the last two as well.

and then shaykh mentions the memorizing of kitab at tawheed and kashfus subuhat and also kitab alwasitiah and kitab aliman of imam muhammad ibn abdul wahhab and other beneficial books like these and shaykh mentions the focusing on the Qur'an and learning and acting and pondering of the Qur'an. and shaykh says with that one should review with the classmates and also ask the teachers and scholars those who are known for knowledge and to ask Allah for tawfeeq and help and not to be weak and not to be lazy and to preserve the time and to divide that into parts.

a part of the day and night for reciting the qur'an and pondering of it, and a part for seeking knowledge and understanding the deen and memorizing the mutun/texts and reviewing and the likes, and a part with the family for his needs, and a part for the salat [prayers], and worship and various duas and remembrances.
then shaykh says if we do not carry out this obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil, then there will come a time when our dua will not be responded to and we will not be aided when we ask for it, and if we ask, we will not be given by Allah, and Allah will send us punishment as came in the ahadeeth.

then shaykh mentions how previous nations were also afflicted due to leaving this great obligation.

then shaykh says this obligation is fard 'ayn - mandatory on some people, and optional on others, if some does it, then obligation from others are lifted and is optional and if no one does then everyone sins for leaving it off.

then shaykh says in there is only one scholar in then country or tribe, then he should teach people and call them to good and enjoin good and forbid evil based on his ability as Allah said, fear Allah as much as you can. and whoever Allah gives success and suffices from the scholars and caller to these two obligation in enjoining good and forbidding evil then he Succeeded as Allah says, And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). (At-Talaq 65:2) And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allâh will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allâh has set a measure for all things. (At-Talaq 65:3)

then shaykh mentions a ayah and surah asr and says the winners are the people of iman, and those who do good deeds and those who enjoin the truth and enjoin each others upon patience.

and he mentions little more on this matter and then ended the book with the dua.

Alhamdulillah. i hope whoever reads this review finds good in it and may Allah make us amongst those who follows the best of what they hear. ameen. may Allah guide us all and rectify our affairs and make us obedient to Him at all time and forgive us. ameen.