Advice to Forbid Evil Properly
My advice to
those who call others to uphold what is right and refrain from what is wrong is
to exercise caution and first acquire the necessary knowledge, ensuring through
sound evidence from Islamic law that something is indeed right or wrong. This
will enable them to speak out with knowledge and clear understanding, in
accordance with the words of Allah: {Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “This is my way. I invite to Allah with
insight—I and those who follow me. Glory be to Allah, and I am not one of the
polytheists.”} [Yusuf 12:108]
I also advise
them to address wrongdoing with gentleness, kind words, and a gracious manner
so that their advice may be accepted and their efforts bring about more reform
than harm. Allah says: {Invite ˹all˺ to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and
kind advice, and only debate with them in the best manner.} [An-Nahl 16:125]
He also says: {It is out of Allah’s mercy that you ˹O Prophet˺ have been lenient with them. Had you
been cruel or hard-hearted, they would have certainly abandoned you.} [Ali-Imran
3:159]
The Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “He who is deprived of forbearance
and gentleness is, in fact, deprived of all good.” He also said, “Kindness is
not to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty and it is not
withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective.” There
are many other authentic hadiths on this subject.
Another
essential quality for anyone who calls others to Allah, enjoins what is right,
and forbids what is wrong is to be among the first to practise what they preach
and among the furthest removed from what they prohibit. This is to avoid
resembling those whom Allah rebukes in His words: {Do
you preach righteousness and fail to practice it yourselves, although you read
the Scripture? Do you not understand?} [Al-Baqarah 2:44]
Allah also
says: {O believers! Why do you say what you do
not do?} [As-Saff 61:2]
By practising
what they preach, they can set a good example for others and ensure that people
benefit from both their words and their actions.
May Allah grant
success and guidance.
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