Allah, the Almighty, has declared the Ummah Muhammadiyah (the followers of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) as the ‘best of nations.’ The reason for this distinction lies in their commitment to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil. Today, it seems that evil has spread extensively. However, perhaps the primary reason for this is that those who used to advocate for good deeds have become victims of expediency and have neglected their responsibilities. As a result, immorality has become widespread.
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ)’s punishment and various calamities have become prevalent. The responsibility of being the ‘best nation’ is an important act of worship. Unfortunately, in modern times, corrupt notions have been introduced under the guise of ‘tolerance,’ causing confusion in people’s minds, and leading them to prioritize personal interests over this crucial duty. The importance of this duty is exemplified by Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) assigning the responsibility to those in positions of power and authority in Surah Al-Hajj, instructing them on what they should do after attaining power:
الَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُورِ
[And they are] those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allah belongs the outcome of [all] matters.
[Al-Hajj: 41]
While being called the ‘best nation,’ Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) directed the Ummah Muhammadiyah ﷺ to fulfill this responsibility through the following command:
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۚ مِّنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ
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.
[Aal-i-Imran: 110]
At another place, the significance of this crucial responsibility is explained as follows:
فَلَوْلَا كَانَ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ أُولُو بَقِيَّةٍ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْفَسَادِ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّنْ أَنجَيْنَا مِنْهُمْ ۗ وَاتَّبَعَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مَا أُتْرِفُوا فِيهِ وَكَانُوا مُجْرِمِينَ
So why were there not among the generations before you those of enduring discrimination forbidding corruption on earth – except a few of those We saved from among them? But those who wronged pursued what luxury they were given therein, and they were criminals.
[Hud: 116]
In Surah Aal-i-Imran, Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
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.
[Aal-i-Imran: 104]
In a similar manner, the advice given by Luqman Hakeem to his son in the Holy Qur’an contains this important and comprehensive duty, and the Qur’an has illustrated it as follows:
وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ
And enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong
[Luqman: 17]
It is also the requirement of the title of the best ummah that we become enforcers of good and forbidders of evil so that the doors of divine mercy may open for us. Keep in mind that the scope of this responsibility is extensive! It not only encompasses adherence to monotheism and prayers but also includes beliefs, dealings, and ethics, everything in its entirety.
It is narrated on the authority of Tariq n Shihab:
It was Marwan who initiated (the practice) of delivering khutbah (address) before the prayer on the Eid day. A man stood up and said: Prayer should precede khutbah. He (Marwan) remarked, this (practice) has been done away with. Upon this Abu Sa’id remarked: This man has performed (his duty) laid on him. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying:
He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.
(Sahih Muslim 49a)
At another place, Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ
Take what is given freely, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.
[Al-A’raf: 199]
Let’s examine in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah that if we accomplish this great task, how its benefits and outcomes will reach us.
- Means of Acceptance of Supplications
It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, before you call and you are not answered.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah 4004)
- Source of Deliverance from All Calamities
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) have mercy on him, writes in the events of the fifth century 478 AH:
“In the year 478 AH, there was a great increase in illnesses; fever and plague spread throughout Iraq, Hijaz, and Sham. Insects on the earth died, then the dead bodies of four-legged animals began to pile up. Foul winds blew, trees fell, and sandstorms raged. Then, the Caliph at that time, Al-Muqtadi bi Amrillah, ordered the implementation of enjoining good and forbidding evil with a new commitment. Musical instruments were broken, and the people were saved from these calamities.”
(Al-Bidaya wa’l-Nihaya, 16/93)
- Means of Earning Rewards Like the First Generations of Muslims
Narrated by Abdul Rahman bin Hadrami:
He reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying:
“Indeed, among my followers, there will be a group of people who will be given the same reward as the first ones (i.e., the early generations of Muslims). They will be distinguished by forbidding what is wrong.”
(Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 4, Page 62, Hadith No. 16643)
- The Means to Attain Paradise and Success
“Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil” is an obligation that serves as a means to enter paradise and also enables other people to become worthy of entering paradise through good advice. While mentioning the attributes of the people of faith who deserve Paradise, Allah Almighty said in Surah At-Tawba:
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٧١﴾ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ۚ وَرِضْوَانٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those – Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. (71) Allah has promised the believing men and believing women gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence; but approval from Allah is greater. It is that which is the great attainment.
[At-Tawba: 71-72]
5. The Reason for Safeguarding from Divine Punishment
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهْلِكَ الْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَ
And your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers.
[Hud: 117]
In this verse, instead of using the term “righteous” (salihoon), the term “reformers” (muslihoon) has been used by Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ). This is because a reformer (muslihoon) is someone whose efforts lead to goodness and the doors of destruction are closed.
As a nation, we witness and commit numerous acts of evil deeds and disobedience. We see corruption and decay prevailing in Muslim communities and households, yet we remain indifferent, wearing the cloak of insensitivity. Our dignity and honor continues to be tarnished, and we remain silent spectators. However, there is still time because we may be pardoned today but we will be clutched eventually with destruction. If we continue to neglect this crucial duty and the reformation of our Muslim brothers, then nothing can save our society from ruin.
Lastly, a hadith is brought to attention:
Abdullah ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ said,
“Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The leader of people is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects. A man is the guardian of his family and he is responsible for them. A woman is the guardian of her husband’s home and his children and she is responsible for them. The servant of a man is a guardian of the property of his master and he is responsible for it. No doubt, every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7138, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1829)
Following this great guidance, if each person tries their best to fulfill this responsibility within their circle of influence and authority, then, with the grace of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ), these gates of goodness will remain open. May Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) bless us with the ability to practice according to the Qur’an and Sunnah and enable us to invite others to it in the best manner. Aameen!
