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Enjoining good and forbidding evil Imam Al-Bayhaqi The Seventy-Seven Branches of Faith (Summary) © 1990, 1996 The Quilliam Press Allah the Most High said: Let there be among you a community who enjoin good and forbid evil; it is they that shall be successful, [3:104] and: You are the best community that has ever been brought forth for mankind: you enjoin good and forbid evil, and you believe in God, [3:110] and: Those who repent, those who worship, those who praise, those who persevere, those who bow down, those who prostrate, and those who enjoin good and forbid evil, [9:112] and: Those of the Israelites who were unbelievers have already been cursed on the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary, for they were disobedient, and transgressed. They did not forbid one another from committing the evil that they wrought. What they used to do was foul indeed. [5:79] The Qur'an is full of passages which treat of this subject. Muslim relates on the authority of Abu Sa`id (radhiallahu `anhu) that the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "Whoever sees something evil should change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot do even that, then in his heart. That is the weakest degree of faith." He also relates on the authority of Ibn Mas`ud that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, "There was not a single Prophet among those who were sent before me who did not have apostles and companions and followed his Sunna and obeyed his commands. But afterwards other generations came whose words belied their deeds, and whose deeds were not in accordance with what they commanded others to do. Whoever struggles against the with his hand is a believer. Whoever struggles against them with his tongue is a believer. And whoever struggles against them with his heart is a believer. But when none of these things are done, then not a single mustard's seed weight of faith is present." Bukhari and Muslim relate that Zaynab (radhiallahu `anha), the wife of the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, "The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) once awoke, and his face was dark, as he said three times, 'There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah! Woe betide the Arabs, because of an evil which will soon come! Today, the barrier of Juj and Ma`juj has been breached by so much,' and he made a circle with his thumb and forefinger." And Zaynab remarked, "I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! Even when the righteous still dwell amongst us?' and he said, 'Yes, when khubth (moral degradation) becomes widespread.'" Malik ibn Dinar once recited the verse, There were in the city nine men who caused corruption in the earth, and would not cause reform, [27:48] and said, "Nowadays, there are people in every clan and district who cause corruption in the earth, and do not cause reform." He also 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!" `Umar ibn `Abdul `Aziz said, "It used to be that Allah the Most High does not punish the common people for the sins of the elite; but when the evil is done openly, and they do not repudiate it, they all become deserving of His punishment."
Commanding the Evil and Preventing the Good Shaykh `Aa'id Abdullah al-Qarnee 30 Signs of the Hypocrites © 1995 Al-Irshaad ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- The Exalted, says: They order that which is evil and forbid that which is good. [Soorah at-Tawbah (9):67] The people turn towards the Qiblah and they turn away from it. You will find that when you speak to him with "Allaah says and His Messenger says…" He says: "O brothers! Give us a rest! As for us, we know the Religion. By Allaah! We are more knowledgeable than you. The Religion is well known and divulged and so is the knowledge too." However, when you ask him about the prostration of forgetfulness, he does not know his knee from his elbow and he does not really know anything about the Religion. In due course, we will mention another characteristic of theirs, that is lack of understanding of the Religion. They command the evil and forbid the good, desiring the obscenity is spread amongst those who believe and that the hijaab is abandoned. You will notice some writers nowadays calling for the liberation of women, the abrogation and removal of the hijaab as well as the spread of songs and (obscene) magazines for the morally depraved. All of this is commanding evil and love for obscenity. Alas, such (a loss) that they do not desire any good or justice. They only desire that goodness diminishes and that the knowledge and calling to Allaah also diminishes. Allaah will overturn them and their desires.
Lack of Understanding of Religion Shaykh `Aa'id Abdullah al-Qarnee 30 Signs of the Hypocrites © Al-Irshaad ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- That is what distinguishes the hypocrites, that they and all praise be to Allaah, do not understand a thing about the Religion. The hypocrite knows how to drive a car and its mechanics, he knows the nations of the world and their capitals, he also knows lots of trivial things and various other useless facts which do not benefit him, if they do not harm him. However, when you approach him with things from the Religion which are common knowledge, he doesn't know a thing about them. Allaah, the Sublime, says: "But the hypocrites do not understand." Al-Qur'aan, Al- Munaafiqoon (63):7 The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam, said as is reported in the Saheehs of Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim: "Whomsoever Allah wishes to show goodness, he gives him understanding of the Religion." The people of knowledge have said the opposite to this is that whomsoever Allaah does not wish to show goodness, He does not bestow upon him the understanding of the Religion. The sign of a believer is that he understands the Religion and is constantly increasing his knowledge of certain matters and benefits and he is covetous of all that is good, as well as the gatherings wherein it is disseminated. The hypocrite, however, completely turns away. When the people talk in a gathering about matters to do with the Prayer or worship, it is to him as if they are speaking in a different language. However, when a matter of this world comes up such a price of goods, vouchers, bills, travellers cheques, the yen and the dollar (and I do not say that the believer does not know these matters, rather he knows these matters but he also knows the affairs of the Religion) then he (the hypocrite) speaks as if that is the only thing in the world which interests him besides food and drink. So he whoknows these matters but does not know a thing about the Religion, then that is a sign of hypocrisy and refuge is only with Allaah!
Desertion and Abandonment of Muslims Shaykh `Aa'id Abdullah al-Qarnee 30 Signs of the Hypocrites © 1995 Al-Irshaad ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- Amongst the signs of the hypocrites is that they flee from the ranks of the Muslims. This man will desert you and be pessimistic and constantly in fear. He will say: "The disbelievers are stronger than Muslims, Israel has technology and strength which Allaah does not know about!" He mocks and ridicules saying: "Are the Muslims capable of fighting America, the owner of nuclear weapons and atomic bombs? They are not capable. We Muslims are doomed to destruction and annihilation, we are weak and in poverty." This is his opinion. Therefore, you will find that the hypocrites who have gone to the countries of the west have become brainwashed and have taken on the role of being representatives for the disbelievers, the colonialists and the foreigners. Yet they are our own sons, constantly portraying the might of America, her strengths, her rockets and her airplanes. However, in contrast they mention the weakness of the Muslims and their humiliation because they do not believe that honour and strength is from Allaah. "To Allaah belongs all Honour and to the Messenger and the believers." [al-Munaafiqoon 63:8] Allaah, the Sublime, says: "If Allaah helps you, then there is none that can overcome you." [Aali-`Imraan 3:160] "There is no help except from Allaah." [Aali-`Imraan 3:126] "The example of those who take protectors besides Allaah is like the example of the spider which builds for itself a house, but truly the flimsiest of houses is the house of the spider." [al-`Ankaboot 29:41] But the hypocrite does not understand that honour is with Allaah, so he constantly turns away from the Muslims. When the jihaad that took place in Afghanistan was mentioned to him he would say: "Do you really think that the Russians will leave the mujaahidoon. They will son pulverise them. There is no comparison between the two. Russia has the abilities and powers that Allaah does not know about!" When he heard about the youth who were about to embark on jihaad, he would say: "I do not think that they will go, as I have just heard of a massive battle that the mujaahidoon, may Allaah help them, have taken a brutal thrashing." When he sees someone going to lectures or talks, he flees from him and says: "I don't see any benefit in these lectures. There is nothing in them, but Fear Allaah, Fear Allaah!" Yet are there more beautiful and beneficial words than "Fear Allaah!" Or more lofty and more noble or graceful? By Allaah never! He says to his colleagues: "Don't attend the lessons, these things go on all the time, its better for you that you stay at home, don't waste your time. You will find the most important things in the books and magazines." All of this is from the abandonment and desertion of Muslims and is one of the signs of hypocrisy. Refuge from this is only with Allaah!
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