The word “ ma'roof’ (right or good) is mentioned in the Qur’an thirty-eight times; whereas the word “munkar” (wrong or evil) is mentioned sixteen times. Ma'roof refers to any act that is approved by both Shari'ah (Islamic Law) and common sense. It is a comprehensive word that includes all acts of obedience to Allah, righteousness to people, and all the things that Allah likes His servants to do, including believing and performing good deeds. On the other hand, munkar refers to any act that is proved to be evil and ugly by both Shari 'ah and commonsense.
Enjoining right and forbidding wrong is a great principle in Islam, which Allah kept sending prophets to teach to the people. If it were neglected one day the whole religion would be in danger of perishing, and then ignorance and corruption would spread all over the world. Allah the All-Wise says in the Qur’an ^And from among you let there be a nation inviting to uprightness and enjoining right and forbidding wrong, those they are the successful)
(Surat A1 'Imran 3:104).
In this ayah, Allah makes success a special reward for those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.
Allah the True also says (Not all the people of earlier Scripture are the same, there are some of them steadfast reciting the Revelations of.Allah all night and prostrate in prayer before Allah; they believe in Allah and the Last Day. they enjoin right and forbid wrong, and vie with one another in good deeds; these are among the righteous;
(Surat A1 Imran 3:1 13-1 14).
In this ayah, Allah shows us that although those people had strong faith in Him and in the Day of Judgment, He did not consider them as righteous until this act of enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong was added to them.
In another ayah, (And the believing men and the believing women, they are the friends of each other, they enjoin good and forbid evil, and establish prayers);
(Surat At-Taubah 9:71 ).
Allah explains to us that only those who enjoin good and forbid evil are to be described as believers and that anyone who does not follow this rule does not deserve this attribution of faith.
Allah also says {The unbelievers of the Children of Israel were cursed by the tongue of David, and by Jesus the son of Mary, because of their rebellion and their transgression; they did not forbid each other the wrong things they committed, evil were their doings.)
(Surat Al-Ma’idah 5:78-79).
This ayah indicates that the Children of Israel deserved the curse because they neglected this rule of forbidding wrong.
In Surah A1 'Imran, Allah stresses the importance of this rule and states that it qualifies people to be the best ummah (nation): {You are the best nation to have been raised up for humankind. You enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong)
(Surat A! 'Imran 3:110).
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever of you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hands: and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith."
(Narrated by Muslim).
Our Islamic society has become overwhelmed by munkar since many of the Muslims started to neglect this duty, although Allah promised us to be winners in this life and the lite to come it we observe this duty of enjoining right and forbidding wrong.
Every child can do his share in this responsibility of enjoining right and forbidding wrong in the small society of his own school, not only by his tongue but by setting a good example and having a positive character. He can also do his share at home with his parents, brothers, sisters, and relatives.
If he is not capable of changing wrong with his hand, at least he can change it by his tongue (that is. forbid the evil by talking to the wrongdoers). But he should never be tough or hurt others’ feelings by using harsh words. Allah says "Call mankind to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and sound advice, and reason with them in a well-mannered way.)
(Surat An-Nahl 16:125).
Harshness may lead to hatred and animosity, which are the opposite of what is wanted. Therefore, if he talks to people but he only finds deaf ears turning to him, he can forbid the wrong with his heart by isolating himself from the wrongdoers. But if he is incapable of doing this either, then this is a sign that his heart is empty of faith.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said. “A daily prayer is due on every joint of a person." One of the listeners stood up and said, “This is the hardest thing you have ever told us." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Enjoining right and forbidding wrong is a prayer, carrying a heavy burden for a weak man is a prayer, removing dirt from the road is a prayer, and each of your steps to the prayer is a prayer."
(Narrated by Ibn Khuzaimah).
Durrah bint Ahi Lahab asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). “Messenger of Allah, who is the best among people?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) answered her. “The one who is the most Allah-fearing, the best in observing the ties of the womb and the best in enjoining right and forbidding wrong."
(Narrated by Al- Baihaqi).
The same question was asked by Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari: “Messenger of Allah, tell me about an act that if the sen ant of Allah does it, he enters Paradise." The Prophet (peace andblessings be upon him) answered. “To believe in Allah and the Day of Judgment.” Abu Dharr said, "Messenger of Allah, there must be deeds beside the belief.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Let him show satisfaction with the will of Allah regarding whatever He has provided him.”
Abu Dharr asked, “Messenger of Allah, what if he is too poor to have anything to be satisfied with?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said. “Let him enjoin right and forbid wrong.” Abu Dharr said, “Messenger of Allah, he cannot do that because he stammers and is incapable of expressing himself.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said. “Let him do things for someone who is incapable of doing them.” Abu Dhar said, “Messenger of Allah, he himself is too clumsy to do anything for anybody.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Let him help a weak person.” Abu Dhan- said, “He himself is too weak to help anybody.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “What is that friend of yours good for? Let him not harm people.” Abu Dharr said. “If he does not do that, will he enter Paradise?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Any Muslim who does any of those things. I'll take him by the hand till he enters Paradise.”
(Narrated by At- Tabarani).
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Your smile at your Muslim brother’s face is sadaqah (charity), enjoining right and forbidding wrong is sadaqah."
(Narrated by At-Tirmidhi).
He also said, “The highest degree of jihad is to speak out the word of righteousness in front of a tyrant.”
(Narrated by Abu Dawood).
This is the advice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Every Muslim male and female has to enjoin right and forbid bad deeds such as drinking alcohol, backbiting, carrying tales, lying, taking riba (interest), swearing by something other than Allah, having full trust in someone other than Allah, harming people, supporting oppressors, in addition to neglecting the prayers, zakah (alms), fasting or Hajj (pilgrimage).
The only motives for enjoining good and forbidding wrong should be the desire to gain Allah’s reward, the fear of His punishment if one does not do it, the anger at seeing Allah’s orders disobeyed, the desire to save the wrong doers from Allah’s punishment in this life and in the life to come, the love of Allah and the belief that He is worthy of obedience and gratitude.
Those who call people to the way of Allah should be lenient in their words and acts in order to have a stronger effect on people. Abu Sufyan Ath-Thauri said, “The one who enjoins right and forbids wrong should have three characteristics: gentleness with the one he is enjoining and with the one he is forbidding; fairness in the thing he is enjoining and in the thing he is forbidding; knowledge of the thing he is enjoining and of the thing he is forbidding.”
May Allah accept us among those who enjoin right and forbid wrong.
The womb stands for the bond of kinship, (translator )
