حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

The importance and virtue of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and the consequences of neglecting it: Ali ibn al-Husayn (may God have mercy on him) said: “The one who neglects enjoining good and forbidding evil is like one who casts the Book of God behind his back, unless he is acting out of fear.” It was asked: “What is his fear?” He replied: “He fears a tyrannical and obstinate ruler who might transgress against him or oppress him.” Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Umari, the ascetic (may God have mercy on him), said: “Part of your heedlessness of yourself is your turning away from God, by seeing what displeases Him and ignoring it, neither enjoining good nor forbidding evil out of fear of created beings. Whoever neglects enjoining good out of fear of created beings loses his dignity, so that if he were to command his own child, the child would treat him with contempt.” [Siyar (its abridgment) 2/765]

The importance and virtue of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and the consequences of neglecting it: Al-Fudayl, may God have mercy on him, said: “Among us, no one attained high status through excessive fasting or prayer, but rather through generosity of spirit, purity of heart, and sincere advice to the community.” [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 3/20]

The importance and virtue of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and the consequences of abandoning it: Ibn 'Ulayyah, may God have mercy on him, said regarding the statement of Abu Bakr al-Muzani: Abu Bakr, may God be pleased with him, did not surpass the companions of Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, in fasting or prayer, but rather in something that was in his heart. He said: What was in his heart was love for God, the Almighty and Majestic, and sincere advice to His creation. [Jami' al-'Ulum wa al-Hikam / 107].

The importance and virtue of commanding right and forbidding wrong, and the outcome of abandoning it: Wuhayb ibn al-Ward, may Allah have mercy on him, said: A scholar met another scholar who surpassed him in knowledge and asked: May Allah have mercy on you, what of my deeds should I conceal? He replied: Enough that it is thought you have never done a good deed except fulfilling obligations. He asked: May Allah have mercy on you, what of my deeds should I make public? He replied: Commanding right and forbidding wrong, for this is Allah's religion with which He sent His prophets to His servants. The scholars have agreed concerning the words of Allah's prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ‘And He has made me blessed wherever I am’: What was that blessing? He said: Commanding right and forbidding wrong wherever he was. [Ibn Abi al-Dunya Encyclopedia 2/197].

The importance and virtue of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and the consequences of neglecting it: On the authority of Al-Dahhak, may God have mercy on him, he said: Enjoining good and forbidding evil is one of the obligations of God, Blessed and Exalted is He. [Ibn Abi Al-Dunya Encyclopedia 2/21].