Meaning and way to forbid evil

29-11-2007 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the meaning of forbidding evil and how should it be done?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

To forbid evil means to seek to change it. It is one of the prescribed obligations in Islam as well as an act of worship. Both the Quran and Sunnah contain abundant references to it. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

·        {And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.} [Quran 3:104]

·        {Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of  Israel by the tongue of Daawood (David) and of ‘Eesa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary). That was because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed. They used not to prevent one another from wrongdoing that they did. How wretched was that which they were doing.} [Quran 5:78,79]

The Prophet ordered the one who sees an evil to change it physically with his hand if he was able to do so. If he could not, he should change it by his tongue (by advising and/or condemning), and finally by (detesting it with) his heart, and he informed that this is the weakest level of faith. [Muslim]

This Hadeeth explains the way evil should be forbidden. It is insufficient for the one who is able to change it with his hand to change it with his tongue. By the same token, it is insufficient for the person who is able to change it with his tongue to be content to disapprove of it with his heart.  Allaah Knows best.