Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil during Ramadan

12/07/2011| IslamWeb

Ramadan is a great month of good opportunities, blessings and blessed gifts from Allah The Almighty. During this month, people compete to do acts that bring them closer to Allah The Almighty and they hasten to all forms of obedience. One of the greatest acts of obedience that brings one closer to Allah The Almighty during this month is receiving a reward from Allah The Almighty through enjoining good and forbidding evil. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims."} [Quran 41: 33]

In fact, whoever enjoins good and forbids evil, invites to Allah The Almighty. Enjoining good and forbidding evil is a condition for considering Muslims the best nation produced as an example for mankind. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil and believe in Allah…..} [Quran 3: 110]

So, you should hasten to enjoin good and forbid evil during this blessed month, with wisdom and good preaching.

How to enjoin good and forbid evil during Ramadan

Some people raise this question and the answer is as follows: You can enjoin good and forbid evil during Ramadan through any of the following means:

1- You can keep some cassette tapesor CDs by some influential Shaykhs on the topic of Ramadan or any other important Islamic topic in your pocket or car.

2- If you see a Muslim cursing or insulting someone, you should kindly and gently remind him of the Hadeeths (narrations) in which the Prophet, , said:

·        "A believer neither reviles nor curses, nor is he a user of lewd or foul speech." [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]

·        "Fasting is a shield and protection (from Hell). If one of you is fasting, he should abstain from sexual intercourse and quarreling. If anyone quarrels with him or insults him, he should say, 'I am fasting, I am fasting.'" [Al-Bukhari, Muslim and Ahmad. This is the wording of Ahmad]

3- Try to prepare some inspiring short sermons and then visit some mosques or any other suitable place to deliver them.

4- Write some touching words and statements on small pieces of paper and then give them to those who are nonobservant. For example, you should choose titles like, "To my brother, the seller of songs…", "To my dear neighbor….", and so on, and then write a beneficial and short piece of advice under that title.

5- Accompany some of your nonobservant friends to inspiring lectures and sermons.

6- Finally, supplicate Allah The Almighty humbly and sincerely on behalf of those who are nonobservant from among your relatives, colleagues or others. Supplication has a great impact in guiding many people. It also reflects your allegiance to the believers and wishing good for them. You should also remember that you benefit from such a supplication, since an angel says: "May it be for you too."

The one who enjoins good and forbids evil should know that the month of Ramadan is a great opportunity for inviting towards Allah The Almighty, because the hearts of Muslims -- even the disobedient among them -- are tender and ready to receive good admonishment. Perhaps a tranquil, tender and calm heart receives the admonishment and thus it could be a reason for its everlasting happiness. The Prophet, , said: "By Allah, that Allah guides at your hand, even one man (to the religion of Allah and righteousness) it is better for you than to have red camels (i.e. the most valuable property in the sight of the Arabs)." [Al-Bukhari]