Chapter 23: About Enjoining What is Just and Forbidding What is Unjust

Translation: [ Enjoining what is just and forbidding what is unjust is one of the main characteristics of the Muslim nation. It rescues the whole nation from ruin.

Translation: This mission should be carried out in a kind manner, with people knowing what is just and what is unjust. It should be carried out in a manner that leads to what is just.

The Messenger of Allah taught us the way to enjoin what is just and forbid what is unjust. He did mention specifically certain people. He used to say: " What is wrong with some people who do such and such. " Examples of this are the following Hadiths:

Translation: Narrated Anas ibn Malek ' The Prophet said: " What is wrong with those people who look towards the sky during the prayer? " His talk grew stern while delivering this speech and he said: “ They should stop (looking towards the sky during the prayer); otherwise their eyes will be snatched away. " (Bukhari)

Translation: When a well-known family stipulated a strange condition for the emancipation of slaves, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ addressed the people.

Translation: A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that Bareerah came to seek her help to write a receipt (for a certain sum) and at that time Bareerah had not paid anything of it. A'isha said to her: " Go back to your masters, and if they agree, I will pay the amount of your writing of the receipt and get the right of Al-wala'a. " Bareerah informed her masters, but they refused, and said: " If she (A'isha) is seeking Allah's reward, then she can do so, but the right of Al-wala'a will be for us. " A'isha mentioned that to Allah's Messenger and he said to her: " Buy her and free her, as the right of Al-wala'a is for the emancipator. " Then, Allah's Messenger addressed the people: " What is wrong with some people who stipulate conditions that are not present in Allah's Laws? Whoever imposes a condition that is not imposed by Allah's law, then those conditions will be invalid, even if such conditions were stipulated one hundred times. Allah's law is the truth and is more solid. "

Undoubtedly, when a nation adheres to this virtue, it attains success in life and in the Hereafter. If it neglects this virtue, it exposes its people to destruction.

In the book titled " Itmamol Wafa'a Fi Seeratol Kholafa'a, A Detailed Biography of the Caliphs the author attributes the victories that the Muslim nation achieved against the Persian and the Roman Empires to many reasons, among of which is he virtue of enjoining what is just and forbidding what is unjust. We quote here what he wrote.

" Their Caliphs were not cowardly people who would fear threats. Their commanders were not hypocrites who used to say what they did not believe. Their nation was one nation, trifling disputes did not preoccupy them and they did not abandon enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong out of cowardice or fear. Their scholars were not deluded with the delights of life, haughtiness, or self-conceit. These people protected those scholars from envy and spite.

The whole Muslim community adhered to Islam by both word and deed, fearing no censure from anyone. Therefore, it is no wonder that they accomplished achievements in such a short period of time that wealthier and stronger nations could do in an equal time. '

In conformity with Islam's laws, no one is above criticism, not even the ruler. The first words of Abu-Bakr upon being chosen as the Caliph were: I have been nominated as your Caliph, " despite the fact that I am not the best among you. If you see me judging justly, support me, if you see me doing otherwise, correct me. Obey me as long as I obey Allah. If I disobey Allah, I will not be entitled to your obedience. "

The Caliph never thought that he was higher in degree than the nation, nor did he think that he had a special right to the subjects ' property or blood.

For this reason the Muslims saw disobedience of the Caliph as an abandonment of the religion. This was not due to elevated position of the Caliph, may Allah forbid. It is known that the Caliph used to support the weakest one until his need was fulfilled, out of emulation of the Messenger of Allah. Omar used to have his meals with the poor and the needy and sit with them for some time 12.

Now, let us study what Imam Al-Nawawi compiled in this concern.] 12 This part is taken from the book: " Itmamol Wafa'a Fi Seeratol Kholafa'a " (A Comprehensive Biography of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs).

Allah said:

Translation: " Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining what is just and forbidding what is unjust. And it is they who are the successful. * " (3: 104) And

Translation: " You (true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his Sunna) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind, you enjoin what is just and forbid what is unjust, and you believe in Allah. Had the people of the Scripture (the Jews and the Christians) believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are some who have faith, but most of them are rebellious. * " (3: 110) And

Translation: “ Show tolerance, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the fools (i.e. don't punish them). (7: 199) And

Translation: " The believers, men and women, are helpers of one another, they enjoin what is just and forbid what is unjust.

Translation: They perform the prayer and give the zakat, and they obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. * " (9: 71) And

Translation: " Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed (Allah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bounds. * " (5: 78) And

Translation: " And say: " Truth is from your Lord. " Then whosoever wills, let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve. Verily, We have prepared for the wrong-doers, a Fire whose walls will be surrounding them (the disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah). And if they ask for help (relief, water), they will be granted water like boiling oil, that will scald their faces. Terrible is the drink, and an evil dwelling place is theirs)! * (18:29) And

Translation: " Therefore, proclaim openly (O Muhammad!) that which you are commanded, and turn away from the polytheists. * " (15: 94) And

Translation: " So, when they forgot what they had been reminded with, We rescued those who forbade evil, but We seized those who did wrong with a severe torment because they used to rebel against Allah's Command. * " (7: 165) The following Hadiths shed light on the subject:

Translation: 136 Narrated Al-No'aman ibn Basheer (may Allah be pleased with them): ' The Prophet said: " The example of the person abiding by Allah's Orders and Restrictions in comparison to those who violate them is like the example of those people who drew lots for their seats in a boat. Some of them got seats in the upper part, and the others in the lower. When the latter needed water, they had to go up to fetch water (and that troubled the others), so they said: ' Let us make a hole in our part of the ship (and get water) saving those who are above us from being troubled. If the people in the upper part had let the others do what they had intended, all of them would have perished, but if they had prevented them (from doing so) both parties would have been saved. " (Bukhari)

Translation: 137 Narrated Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with them): ' Once, the Prophet came to me in a state of fear and said: " La ilaha illa Allah. (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.) Woe unto the Arabs from a danger that has come near. An opening has been made in the wall of Gog and Magog like this, " and he made a circle with his thumb and index finger. Zaynab said: " O Allah's Messenger! Shall we be destroyed even though there are the pious men among us? " He said: " Yes when the evil persons outnumber the good ones. " (Bukhari)