How to Enjoin Good and Forbid Evil with Wisdom in Islam
My advice to those who cannot forbid evil is to
verify the matter carefully and seek knowledge first, so they become certain
whether the issue is truly something commendable or something blameworthy
according to the evidence of the Shari`ah. Only then should they condemn or
correct it with clear understanding and insight.
Allah, the Exalted, says, {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]
Correct Others with Kindness and Good
Character
My advice to them is that their
correction should be carried out with gentleness, kind speech, and a gracious manner. This makes it more likely
that people will accept their advice, and it enables them to bring about more
reform than harm.
Allah, the Exalted, 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) also said: “He who is
deprived of forbearance and gentleness is, in fact, deprived of all good.”
And he (peace and blessings be upon
him) 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anything but that it adds to its beauty and it is not withdrawn from anything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
narrations conveying this same meaning.
Practice What You Preach
One who calls others to Allah, enjoins
what is right, and forbids what is wrong should be among the first to practice
what he commands and among the furthest from what he prohibits.
Otherwise, he resembles those whom
Allah condemned when He said: {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 acting upon what he teaches, the
caller to Allah becomes a living example for others to follow, and people
benefit not only from his words but also from his actions. And Allah is the One
Who grants success.
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