The Sin of Abandoning Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُحِلُّوا۟ شَعَـٰٓئِرَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا ٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَلَا ٱلْهَدْىَ وَلَا ٱلْقَلَـٰٓئِدَ وَلَآ ءَآمِّينَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًۭا مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرِضْوَٰنًۭا ۚ وَإِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَٱصْطَادُوا۟ ۚ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُوا۟ ۘ وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ٢
O you who believe, do not violate (the sanctity) of the Marks of Allah, nor of the sacred month, nor of the sacrificial animal, nor of the garlands, nor of those proceeding to the Sacred House, seeking the grace of their Lord and (His) Pleasure. When you are out of Ihrām, you may hunt. Malice against a people for their having prevented you from Al-Masjid-ul-Harām, should not cause you to cross the limits. Help each other in righteousness and piety, and do not help each other in sin and aggression. Fear Allah. Surely, Allah is severe at punishment. (5:2)
It is clear that a person who sees evil in his Muslim brother and does not act as a sincere well-wisher by correcting him is, in a way, شریک in his sin and destruction; rather, he becomes a supporter and helper in it. This is because instead of stopping him from wrongdoing—and if he did not refrain, then warning him firmly—he did not even object to his evil actions and left him upon his wrongdoing. There is no place for such an attitude in religion, because one of the conditions of ایمان is that a person should like for his Muslim brother what he likes for himself.
Jarir (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا سَيَّارٌ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ بَايَعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى السَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ، فَلَقَّنَنِي، فِيمَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، وَالنُّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ.
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: I gave the Pledge of allegiance to the Prophet (ﷺ) that I would listen and obey, and he told me to add: ‘As much as I can, and will give good advice to every Muslim.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Thus, it is obligatory for every person to sincerely advise every Muslim brother toward goodness and to stop him from evil. A person’s true well-wisher is the one who nurtures and guides him for the betterment of his Hereafter, whereas a person’s true enemy is the one who appears to be a well-wisher in worldly matters but shows no concern for his Hereafter. Rather, even in worldly matters, he may guide him toward things that lead to his destruction.
Allah the Exalted says:
لَوْلَا يَنْهَىٰهُمُ ٱلرَّبَّـٰنِيُّونَ وَٱلْأَحْبَارُ عَن قَوْلِهِمُ ٱلْإِثْمَ وَأَكْلِهِمُ ٱلسُّحْتَ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَصْنَعُونَ ٦٣
Why do the Men of Allah and the Men of Knowledge not forbid them from saying what is sinful and devouring what is unlawful? Evil indeed is what they have been working. (5:63)
Imam al-Qurtubi (رحمه الله) said:
“‘Rabbaniyyun’ refers to the Christian scholars, and ‘Ahbar’ refers to the Jewish scholars. From this verse it is established that the one who abandons forbidding evil is like the one who commits the evil.”
(Tafsir al-Qurtubi, 2/237)
Indeed, such evil scholars are deserving of severe reproach and condemnation—those who, instead of eliminating wrongdoing, become its supporters. How can the reform of people be possible when scholars themselves begin to adopt the habits of the ignorant?
How can people be reproached for sin when the scholars themselves begin to consider disobedience as minor and insignificant?
How will people be inclined toward obedience when the scholars themselves are distant from obedience?
How can the limits (Hudud) be upheld when the scholars themselves transgress those limits?
How will people be purified from innovations when the scholars themselves see innovations but do not consider it necessary to stop people from them?
When scholars themselves go astray, the common people also deviate from the right path by following them, because the عامة are unaware of the knowledge of Shari‘ah and rely on scholars for guidance in all matters. Likewise, a scholar who does not act upon his knowledge will be held more accountable than others.
Those Who Ignore Wrongdoing Are Cursed
Allah the Exalted says:
لُعِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُۥدَ وَعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ ٧٨
On those who disbelieve from among the children of Isrā’īl , a curse was pronounced by Dawūd and ‘Īsā, Son of Maryam. All this because they disobeyed and used to cross the limits. (5:78)
كَانُوا۟ لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍۢ فَعَلُوهُ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ ٧٩
They did not forbid each other from any evil they committed. Evil indeed is what they have been doing. (5:79)
Here, Allah the Exalted explains that the reason for the بنی اسرائیل being cursed was their abandonment of enjoining good and forbidding evil. He has placed those who abandon this duty among the disobedient and transgressors.
Neglecting Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil Leads to Destruction
Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked:
“O Messenger of Allah! Can a town be destroyed even though righteous people are present within it?”
He (ﷺ) replied: “Yes.”
It was asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Why is that?”
He (ﷺ) said:
بِتَهاوُنِهِمْ وَسُكُوتِهِمْ عَنْ مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ
Because they consider disobedience to Allah as insignificant and remain silent when they see it happening.” (Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani, 11/270)
Loss of Acceptance of Supplications Due to Neglecting Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (رضي الله عنه) narrates from the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) that he said:
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ الْيَمَانِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَتَأْمُرُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَلَتَنْهَوُنَّ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ أَوْ لَيُوشِكَنَّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عِقَابًا مِنْهُ ثُمَّ تَدْعُونَهُ فَلاَ يُسْتَجَابُ لَكُمْ ” . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ .
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرٍو، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ .Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! Either you command good and forbid evil, or Allah will soon send upon you a punishment from Him, then you will call upon Him, but He will not respond to you. ” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi)
In another hadith, Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها) narrates that the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) said:
دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَعَرَفْتُ فِي وَجْهِهِ أَنْ قَدْ حَفَزَهُ شَيْءٌ، فَتَوَضَّأَ ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَلَمْ يُكَلِّمْ أَحَدًا، فَدَنَوْتُ مِنَ الْحُجُرَاتِ، فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ : يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ : مُرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ، وَانْهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَدْعُونِي فَلَا أُجِيبُكُمْ، وَتَسْأَلُونِي فَلَا أُعْطِيكُمْ، وَتَسْتَنْصِرُونِي، فَلَا أَنْصُرُكُمْ
Those Who Do Not Stop Evil May Be Afflicted by the Same Punishment
It is narrated in the hadith of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْنٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، – الْمَعْنَى – عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، عَنْ قَيْسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَعْدَ أَنْ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ، وَأَثْنَى، عَلَيْهِ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّكُمْ تَقْرَءُونَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ وَتَضَعُونَهَا عَلَى غَيْرِ مَوَاضِعِهَا { عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ لاَ يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ } قَالَ عَنْ خَالِدٍ وَإِنَّا سَمِعْنَا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ” إِنَّ النَّاسَ إِذَا رَأَوُا الظَّالِمَ فَلَمْ يَأْخُذُوا عَلَى يَدَيْهِ أَوْشَكَ أَنْ يَعُمَّهُمُ اللَّهُ بِعِقَابٍ ” . وَقَالَ عَمْرٌو عَنْ هُشَيْمٍ وَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ” مَا مِنْ قَوْمٍ يُعْمَلُ فِيهِمْ بِالْمَعَاصِي ثُمَّ يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى أَنْ يُغَيِّرُوا ثُمَّ لاَ يُغَيِّرُوا إِلاَّ يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَعُمَّهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ بِعِقَابٍ ” . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ كَمَا قَالَ خَالِدٌ أَبُو أُسَامَةَ وَجَمَاعَةٌ . وَقَالَ شُعْبَةُ فِيهِ ” مَا مِنْ قَوْمٍ يُعْمَلُ فِيهِمْ بِالْمَعَاصِي هُمْ أَكْثَرُ مِمَّنْ يَعْمَلُهُ ” .
Narrated Abu Bakr:
You people recite this verse “You who believe, care for yourselves; he who goes astray cannot harm you when you are rightly-guided,” and put it in its improper place.
Khalid’s version has: We heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: When the people see a wrongdoer and do not prevent him, Allah will soon punish them all. Amr ibn Hushaym’s version has: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: If acts of disobedience are done among any people and do not change them though the are able to do so, Allah will soon punish them all.
Adu Dawud said: This tradition has also been transmitted by Abu Usamah and a group transmitters similar to the version narrated by Khalid. The version of Shu’bah has: “If acts of obedience are done among any people who are more numerous than those who do them….” (Sunan Abi Dawud)
In another narration, the wording is:
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ، – أَظُنُّهُ – عَنِ ابْنِ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ جَرِيرٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ “ مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ يَكُونُ فِي قَوْمٍ يُعْمَلُ فِيهِمْ بِالْمَعَاصِي يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى أَنْ يُغَيِّرُوا عَلَيْهِ فَلاَ يُغَيِّرُوا إِلاَّ أَصَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَمُوتُوا ” .
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If any man is among a people in whose midst he does acts of disobedience, and, though they are able to make him change (his acts), they do not change, Allah will smite them with punishment before they die. (Sunan Abi Dawud)
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