Why Do People Sin? Neglecting the Duty of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Bad or Evil.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

One of the reasons why we see sin proliferate is that many of us have forgotten the principles of inviting people to good and stopping them from doing bad. When people live in environments (within the family or other social circles) where advice for the good isn’t encouraged much, it takes away the opportunities for improvements and also lets people develop false perceptions about themselves.

Staying away from sins requires periodic doses of knowledgeable advice and wisdom. Additionally, Islamic teachings also command us to advise each other on matters of right or wrong. When families and communities fail to espouse these principles, sins spread more easily. Allah Most High says in the Qur'an (about Muslims):

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ‌ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِ‌جَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُ‌ونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُ‌وفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ‌ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ ءَامَنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَكَانَ خَيْرً‌ۭا لَّهُم ۚ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُ‌هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ ﴿١١٠

You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient. (110) (Qur'an, Aleimran 3:110]

Malik ibn Dinar said, “We have become accustomed to loving the world, so that we do not enjoin good or forbid evil to one another. Allah the Most High will certainly not permit us to continue doing this, but would that I knew what kind of punishment shall befall us!” Imam Al-Bayhaqi (The Seventy-Seven Branches of Faith).

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said: “If the people see an evil and they do not change it, soon Allah will inflict them all with His Punishment (Hadith – Ahmed, graded authentic by Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (1/398).”

Man is a very forgetful creature and makes a lot of mistakes. His own self (nafs) tells him to do evil and the Shaytan tempts him to commit sin. When bodies get sick and are afflicted with disease, one has to find a doctor who can prescribe the appropriate medicine so that the body may be restored to full health. Similarly, souls and hearts may be afflicted with the diseases of desire and doubt, so people do things which Allah has forbidden, such as being bad to their parents, oppressing people (stealing, cheating, lying, etc.), neglecting the rights of others, consuming haram, shedding blood, committing adultery, drinking alcohol, preventing people from following the way of Allah and disbelieving in Allah.

The diseases of the heart [psychological and spiritual diseases] are worse than diseases of the body. This means that one must find a doctor who is skilled in treating such diseases. Because the diseases of the heart are so many and cause the spread of evil and corruption, Allah has enjoined the believers to treat these diseases, by enjoining that which is good and forbidding that which is evil. Allah Most High says,

وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْخَيْرِ‌ وَيَأْمُرُ‌ونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُ‌وفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ‌ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٠٤

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. (104) [Qur'an, Ale'Imran 3:104]

Enjoining what is good (al-ma’roof) and forbidding what is evil (al-munkar) is one of the most important Islamic duties, stressed repeatedly in the Qur'an and Sunnah. Indeed it is the noblest and most sublime. This is the task of the Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them all), as Allah Most High says,

رُّ‌سُلًا مُّبَشِّرِ‌ينَ وَمُنذِرِ‌ينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ حُجَّةٌۢ بَعْدَ ٱلرُّ‌سُلِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا ﴿١٦٥

[We sent] messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allah after the messengers. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise. (165) [Qur'an, al-Nisaa’ 4:165]

If the ummah fails to do its duty of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, wrongdoing and corruption will spread throughout the ummah, and it will deserve the curse of Allah. For Allah cursed those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved because they failed in this important duty. Allah Most High says,

لُعِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا۟ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَ‌ٰٓ‌ءِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُۥدَ وَعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْ‌يَمَ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ ﴿٧٨﴾ كَانُوا۟ لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ‌ۢ فَعَلُوهُ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٧٩

Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed. (78) They used not to prevent one another from wrongdoing that they did. How wretched was that which they were doing. (79) [Qur'an, al-Maa’idah 5:78-79]

Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil provides a mechanism whereby the Muslim Ummah can fight off various social, moral and spiritual ills, and maintain a healthy and dynamic life. If one practices this principle, it provides both a source and an indication of spiritual and moral health. If one does not react in any way in the face of wrong, then this means that in a spiritual and moral sense, one is dead.

`Abd allah ibn Mas'ud was once asked, "Who are the living dead?" and he replied, "Those who never command something good and never forbid something bad".

Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil is a mission which will never end until the Hour begins. It is obligatory upon the ummah, rulers and subjects, men and women, each according to his or her circumstances. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

If one of you sees something wrong, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart and this is the weakest faith.

Some versions added:

...there is no part of faith behind that, not even so much as a mustard seed.

One should fix oneself, avoiding sins and doing good as much as one can. Fixing oneself includes commanding good and forbidding evil. One cannot be fully guided until he fulfills what Allah has obligated upon him of commanding the good and forbidding the evil. At the very least one should have concern of those who are being wronged.

Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil is jihaad for the sake of Allah. Jihaad requires putting up with difficulties and bearing insults and harm with patience, as Luqmaan said to his son:

يَـٰبُنَىَّ أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةَ وَأْمُرْ‌ بِٱلْمَعْرُ‌وفِ وَٱنْهَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ‌ وَٱصْبِرْ‌ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ‌ ﴿١٧﴾

O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] determination. (17) [Qur'an, Luqmaan 31:17]

Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil is an important mission, hence those who undertake this mission must be of good character and must understand the objectives of sharee’ah; they must call people with wisdom and fair preaching and deal with them in a kind and gentle manner, so that Allah may guide those whom He wills at their hands.

Allah Most High says,

ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَ‌بِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَـٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَ‌بَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿١٢٥

Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided. (125) [Qur'an, al-Nahl 16:125]

It is not uncommon to see people getting discouraged (whether in situations of advising or when being advised) due to the manner in which such advice is given. This is because they fail to see the difference between advising and condemning.

It was said to one of the Salaf (pious followers that came after the death of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam): “Would you love that someone inform you about your faults?” So he replied: “If he does so with the intention of blaming me, then no.”

Also, Al-Fudayl (rahimahullaah) said: “The believer conceals (the sin of his brother) and advises (him), while the evildoer disgraces and condemns (him).”

Similarly, when we know of the wrong actions of believers, we shouldn’t make it a point to propagate their weaknesses to others. The salaf, for example, used to hate the commanding of the good and forbidding evil when it was done to someone in a public forum. Instead, they loved that it be done privately. This is since it is not the goal of the one who is advising to spread and publicize the faults of the person he is advising, rather his goal is only to put an end to the evil that he has fallen into.

The ummah which establishes the symbols of Islam, enjoins what is good and forbids what is evil, will attain happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah will send them His support and grant them victory, as He Most High says, (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, Allah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.

The Muslim ummah is one nation, and if corruption becomes widespread in it and its circumstances turn bad, then all the Muslims are obliged to reform it, rid it of evil things, enjoin what is good and forbid what is bad, and offer sincere advice to all. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Religion is sincerity.” We said, “To whom?” He said, “To Allah and His Book, and His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.” (Narrated by Muslim, 95).

If a Muslim is commanded to do something by Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam, he should be the quickest of people to do it, and if he is forbidden to do something by Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam, he must be the one who keeps furthest away from it. Allah has issued a warning to those who go against that, as He Most High says,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ كَبُرَ‌ مَقْتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٣

O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? (2) Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do. (3) [Qur'an, al-Saff 61:2-3]

No matter how righteous and how knowledgeable a person may be, he still needs sincere advice, guidance and reminders in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Even the best and most perfect of creation, Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam, received advice and guidance. Allah Most High says in the Qur'an,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِ‌ينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا ﴿١﴾ وَٱتَّبِعْ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّ‌بِّكَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرً‌ۭا ﴿٢﴾ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا ﴿٣

O Prophet, fear Allah and do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise. (1) And follow that which is revealed to you from your Lord. Indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted. (2) And rely upon Allah; and sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs. (3) [Qur'an, al-Ahzaab 33:1-3]

May Allah help us fulfill our duties towards Him and towards those who have rights upon us. Ameen.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

Wassalaam