One of the Most Important Reasons for a Righteous Society | Shaykh Ibn Baz
- Muiz As-Siddeeqi
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Question to Shaykh Ibn Baaz:
Some sisters from Al-Majma'ah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—who have used the initials (A.A.A–A–M.M.M)—have asked this question:
“If we try to stop gossiping (namīmah) and backbiting (ghībah) among people, the ones we are advising to do good and forbidding from doing evil start to insult us and become angry with us. Are we sinful because of their anger, even if the person we are advising is one of our parents? Should we stop them from this wrong or should we just stay quiet and mind our own business in this serious matter? Please guide us—may Allah reward you!”
Shaykh Ibn Baaz Answer:
From the greatest duties in Islam is commanding the good and forbidding the evil. Allah the Most High said:
“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong…”—[Surah At-Tawbah, 9:71]
In this verse, Allah made it clear that commanding good and forbidding evil is a required quality of every believing man and woman.
He also said:
“You are the best nation brought out for mankind—you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah…”—[Surah Aal-‘Imran, 3:110]
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue. And if he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest level of faith.”—Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih
There are many verses and hadiths that command us to enjoin good and forbid evil, and strongly condemn those who leave this obligation.
So it is obligatory on you, and on every believing man and woman, to command the good and forbid the evil—even if the person gets angry at you, even if he insults you. You must be patient. This is the way of the Prophets and their righteous followers.
Allah told His Prophet:
“So be patient, as were those of determination among the Messengers…”—[Surah Al-Aḥqāf, 46:35]
And He said:
“And be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”—[Surah Al-Anfāl, 8:46]
And He told us that Luqman the Wise said to his son:
“O my dear son! Establish the prayer, command what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, that is of the matters requiring determination.”—[Surah Luqman, 31:17]
So without a doubt: The righteousness and uprightness of society only happens by the help of Allah, and then through people commanding what is right and forbidding what is wrong.
On the other hand, the corruption, collapse, and even the destruction of an entire society comes when people abandon this obligation. The Prophet ﷺ clearly warned:
“When people see evil and do not stop it, it is very near that Allah will send His punishment upon all of them.”—Authentic hadith
Allah also warned us about copying the path of the disbelievers from the Children of Israel. He said:
“Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dawud and Isa the son of Maryam. That was because they disobeyed and were transgressors.They used to not forbid one another from the evil they committed. Evil indeed was what they used to do.”—[Surah Al-Mā’idah, 5:78–79]
So we ask Allah to grant all Muslims—rulers and the ruled—the success to fulfill this great duty in the best way. And we ask Him to set their affairs right, and protect all of us from the causes of His anger and His punishment. Indeed, He is All-Hearing, Ever-Responsive.
Published in: Al-Majallah Al-‘Arabiyyah, in the section: “So Ask the People of Knowledge”Collected in: Majmū‘ Fatāwā wa Maqālāt of Shaykh Ibn Bāz, Volume 6, Page 344
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