WEBVTT 00:00:00.850 --> 00:00:04.250 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:04.250 --> 00:00:06.700 The lives of the salaf. 00:00:06.700 --> 00:00:11.580 Between speech and action. 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:15.179 Enjoining good and forbidding evil. 00:00:15.179 --> 00:00:20.969 The importance and merit of enjoining good and forbidding evil. 00:00:20.969 --> 00:00:24.199 And the consequence for those who abandon it. 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:28.199 Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, recited this verse: 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:32.799 “O ye who believe! Ye have charge of your own souls. He who erreth cannot injure you if ye are rightly guided. Unto Allah ye will all return; and then He will inform you of what ye used to do.” (5:105) 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:36.799 “O ye who believe! Ye have charge of your own souls. He who erreth cannot injure you if ye are rightly guided. Unto Allah ye will all return; and then He will inform you of what ye used to do.” (5:105) 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:38.799 Then he said: 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:43.799 "People misapply this verse, placing it where it does not belong." 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:48.799 "Verily, I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say:" 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:53.829 "If people see an oppressor and do not restrain his hand," 00:00:53.829 --> 00:00:56.829 "And see an evil and do not change it," 00:00:56.829 --> 00:01:00.340 "Allah will encompass them all with His punishment." 00:01:00.340 --> 00:01:04.340 Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him, said: 00:01:04.340 --> 00:01:10.340 "A man may enter a situation where he is obligated to speak for the sake of Allah," 00:01:10.340 --> 00:01:12.340 "Yet he does not speak." 00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:16.409 "And his heart will never return to what it once was." 00:01:16.409 --> 00:01:18.409 He, may Allah be pleased with him, also said: 00:01:18.409 --> 00:01:25.409 "A man would speak a word during the time of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him," 00:01:25.409 --> 00:01:28.409 "And become a hypocrite because of it." 00:01:28.409 --> 00:01:34.409 "Yet today, I hear one of you say it four times in a single sitting." 00:01:34.409 --> 00:01:38.409 "You must enjoin the good and forbid the evil," 00:01:38.409 --> 00:01:41.409 "And encourage one another toward righteousness," 00:01:41.409 --> 00:01:45.409 "Or Allah will surely overwhelm you all with a punishment," 00:01:45.409 --> 00:01:48.409 "Or He will cause your worst to rule over you," 00:01:48.409 --> 00:01:52.409 "Then your best will call upon Him, and they will not be answered." 00:01:52.409 --> 00:01:56.760 Abu al-Darda', may Allah be pleased with him, said: 00:01:56.760 --> 00:02:01.760 "No believer gives a charity more beloved to Allah, the Almighty and Majestic," 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:04.760 "Than an exhortation with which he counsels his people," 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:08.759 "So that they disperse having been benefited by Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, through it." 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:12.180 Al-Fudayl, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:02:12.180 --> 00:02:17.180 "Those who attained high status among us did not do so through excessive fasting or prayer," 00:02:17.180 --> 00:02:23.180 "Rather, they attained it through generosity of soul, soundness of heart," 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:25.719 "And sincere counsel to the Ummah." 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:28.719 Al-Dahhak, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:36.199 "Enjoining good and forbidding evil is among the obligatory duties of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted." 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:40.199 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:02:40.199 --> 00:02:46.199 "It used to be said that Allah does not punish the general public for the sins of the elite," 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:49.199 "But if evil is committed openly," 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:52.199 "They all deserve punishment." 00:02:52.199 --> 00:02:59.960 Etiquette and advice for those who enjoin good and forbid evil. 00:02:59.960 --> 00:03:06.629 Abu al-Darda', may Allah be pleased with him, passed by a man who had committed a sin, 00:03:06.629 --> 00:03:08.629 And the people were reviling him. 00:03:08.629 --> 00:03:09.629 He said: 00:03:09.629 --> 00:03:13.659 "Tell me, if you found him in a well," 00:03:13.659 --> 00:03:15.659 "Would you not pull him out?" 00:03:15.659 --> 00:03:17.659 They replied, "Yes." 00:03:17.659 --> 00:03:18.659 He said: 00:03:18.659 --> 00:03:20.659 "Then do not revile your brother," 00:03:20.659 --> 00:03:24.659 "But praise Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, who has spared you." 00:03:24.659 --> 00:03:27.659 They asked, "Do you not hate him?" 00:03:27.659 --> 00:03:28.659 He said: 00:03:28.659 --> 00:03:30.659 "I only hate his action," 00:03:30.659 --> 00:03:34.080 "So if he abandons it, he is my brother." 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:37.080 Sa'id ibn Jubayr, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:40.080 I said to Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:45.080 "Should I enjoin the ruler to do good and forbid him from evil?" 00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:46.080 He said: 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:49.139 "If you fear he will kill you, then do not." 00:03:49.139 --> 00:03:50.139 He said: 00:03:50.139 --> 00:03:51.139 Then I returned [to the topic], 00:03:51.139 --> 00:03:57.139 And he said the same to me. 00:03:57.139 --> 00:03:58.139 And he said: 00:03:58.139 --> 00:04:01.139 "If you must do it," 00:04:01.139 --> 00:04:03.139 "Then do it between you and him." 00:04:03.139 --> 00:04:06.659 Tawus, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:10.659 A man came to Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and said: 00:04:10.659 --> 00:04:15.750 "Shall I stand before this ruler and enjoin him and forbid him?" 00:04:15.750 --> 00:04:16.879 He said: 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:18.879 "Do not be a source of tribulation for him." 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:19.939 He said: 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:24.939 "What if he commands me to disobey Allah, the Almighty and Majestic?" 00:04:24.939 --> 00:04:25.939 He said: 00:04:25.939 --> 00:04:27.939 "That is what you intend?" 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:30.939 "Then be a man in that moment." 00:04:30.939 --> 00:04:34.420 Al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:38.490 "The believer conceals, counsels, and advises," 00:04:38.490 --> 00:04:42.490 "While the wicked person exposes, shames, and spreads." 00:04:42.490 --> 00:04:45.939 Bishr ibn al-Harith, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:04:45.939 --> 00:04:49.939 "No one should enjoin good and forbid evil," 00:04:49.939 --> 00:04:52.939 "Except one who can endure the harm." 00:04:52.939 --> 00:04:58.220 Talhah ibn Musarrif, may Allah have mercy on him, passed by Hujr ibn Wa'il, 00:04:58.220 --> 00:05:01.220 Who was sitting at the door of his house. 00:05:01.220 --> 00:05:04.220 He whispered something to him, then walked on. 00:05:04.220 --> 00:05:05.220 Hujr said, 00:05:05.220 --> 00:05:09.220 "May Allah reward you with good," and prayed for him. 00:05:09.220 --> 00:05:10.220 Then he said: 00:05:10.220 --> 00:05:12.220 "Do you know what he said?" 00:05:12.220 --> 00:05:14.220 He said: 00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:18.220 "I saw you looking around during the Friday prayer; do not do that." 00:05:18.220 --> 00:05:22.699 It was said to Imam Malik ibn Anas, may Allah have mercy on him: 00:05:22.699 --> 00:05:26.699 "There are people who, if I command them, they obey me," 00:05:26.699 --> 00:05:30.699 "And others who, if I command them, I am harmed by them." 00:05:30.699 --> 00:05:32.699 "So what should I do?" 00:05:32.699 --> 00:05:33.699 He said: 00:05:33.699 --> 00:05:37.699 "If you fear and think they will not obey you," 00:05:37.699 --> 00:05:39.699 "Then leave it and forbid it in your heart," 00:05:39.699 --> 00:05:41.699 "For you have leeway in that." 00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:45.800 "But whoever you do not fear, enjoin him and forbid him," 00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:49.800 "Especially if you seek the pleasure of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, through it." 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:51.800 "If you are like that," 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:53.800 "You will see nothing but good," 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:58.800 "Especially if you possess a gentle nature." 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:00.800 Do you not see the words of Allah the Exalted 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:03.800 To Musa and Harun, peace be upon them both: 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:06.800 “And speak unto him a gentle word, that peradventure he may heed or fear.” (20:44) 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:10.800 "If you are harsh in your command, it will not be accepted from you," 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:12.800 "And you will be exposed to what you dislike," 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:15.800 "And you will depart from the ranks of the people of the Qur'an." 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:20.410 From Abu 'Abdullah ibn al-Rabi', may Allah have mercy on him, 00:06:20.410 --> 00:06:21.410 He said: 00:06:21.410 --> 00:06:25.410 I entered upon Sufyan al-Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, in Basra, 00:06:25.410 --> 00:06:28.410 And I said, "O Abu 'Abdullah," 00:06:28.410 --> 00:06:31.410 "I am with these inspectors (muhtasibun)," 00:06:31.410 --> 00:06:34.410 "And we enter upon these wicked people," 00:06:34.410 --> 00:06:37.410 "And we climb over the walls." 00:06:37.410 --> 00:06:40.470 He said, "Do they not have doors?" 00:06:40.470 --> 00:06:41.470 I said, "Yes," 00:06:41.470 --> 00:06:45.470 "But we enter upon them so they do not flee." 00:06:45.470 --> 00:06:48.470 He disapproved of that strongly, 00:06:48.470 --> 00:06:50.470 And criticized our actions. 00:06:50.470 --> 00:06:51.470 Then he said: 00:06:51.470 --> 00:06:55.470 "No one should enjoin good or forbid evil," 00:06:55.470 --> 00:06:58.470 "Unless he possesses three qualities:" 00:06:58.470 --> 00:07:01.470 "Gentle in what he enjoins," 00:07:01.470 --> 00:07:03.470 "Gentle in what he forbids," 00:07:03.470 --> 00:07:07.470 "Just in what he enjoins, just in what he forbids," 00:07:07.470 --> 00:07:12.470 "Knowledgeable in what he enjoins, knowledgeable in what he forbids." 00:07:12.470 --> 00:07:16.110 Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked: 00:07:16.110 --> 00:07:19.110 "People need tact," 00:07:19.110 --> 00:07:23.110 "And gentleness in enjoining good, without harshness," 00:07:23.110 --> 00:07:26.110 "Except for a man who openly declares his immorality," 00:07:26.110 --> 00:07:28.110 "For he has no sanctity." 00:07:28.110 --> 00:07:31.240 He also said, may Allah have mercy on him: 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:33.240 "Do not confront the ruler," 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:36.240 "For his sword is drawn." 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:38.850 Abu al-'Abbas said: 00:07:38.850 --> 00:07:44.850 Juwayn once prayed behind Abu 'Abdullah, Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him. 00:07:44.850 --> 00:07:46.850 When he prostrated, 00:07:46.850 --> 00:07:48.850 He gathered his garment with his left hand. 00:07:48.850 --> 00:07:50.850 I was at his side. 00:07:50.850 --> 00:07:52.850 When we finished praying, 00:07:52.850 --> 00:07:55.850 He said to me, lowering his voice: 00:07:55.850 --> 00:07:59.879 "The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:" 00:07:59.879 --> 00:08:01.879 "When one of you stands for prayer," 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:04.879 "He should not tuck up his hair or his garment." 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:06.879 When we stood up, 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:07.879 Juwayn said to me, 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:10.879 "What was he saying to you?" 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:11.879 I said, 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:14.879 "He said such and such to me," 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.879 "And I do not think the meaning was for anyone but you." 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:23.709 The Wazir Ibn Hubayrah, may Allah have mercy on him, said to someone who enjoins good: 00:08:23.709 --> 00:08:26.709 "Strive to conceal the sinners," 00:08:26.709 --> 00:08:30.709 "For the appearance of their sins is a blemish upon the people of Islam," 00:08:30.709 --> 00:08:33.710 "And the most important of matters is to conceal faults." 00:08:33.710 --> 00:08:39.730 The obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil, 00:08:39.730 --> 00:08:41.730 Even if one is deficient. 00:08:41.730 --> 00:08:46.240 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:51.240 "If a person were not to counsel his brother until he had perfected his own affairs," 00:08:51.240 --> 00:08:55.240 "And completed what was torn in his worship of his Lord," 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:58.240 "Then people would abandon goodness," 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:03.240 "And enjoining good and forbidding evil would be lifted," 00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:09.240 "And those who preach and strive for the sake of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, with counsel on earth would be few." 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:13.350 The obligation of enjoining good, 00:09:13.350 --> 00:09:16.350 Even if one does not act upon everything he says. 00:09:16.350 --> 00:09:20.700 From Abu al-Darda', may Allah be pleased with him, who said: 00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:24.700 "I enjoin you to do things that I do not do myself," 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:27.700 "But perhaps Allah will reward me for it." 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:32.250 Malik ibn Dinar, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:09:32.250 --> 00:09:36.250 "I enjoin you to do things that my own actions do not reach," 00:09:36.250 --> 00:09:41.250 "But if I forbid you from something and then I contradict you by doing it," 00:09:41.250 --> 00:09:44.250 "Then on that day, I am a liar." 00:09:44.250 --> 00:09:50.799 Stories and incidents. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:52.799 From 'Umar ibn Muhajir, who said: 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:56.799 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, said to me: 00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:59.899 "If you see me deviate from the truth," 00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:03.899 "Place your hand on my collar, shake me, and say:" 00:10:03.899 --> 00:10:06.899 "'O 'Umar, what are you doing?'" 00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:09.470 Shuja' ibn al-Walid said: 00:10:09.470 --> 00:10:13.470 I used to perform Hajj with Sufyan al-Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, 00:10:13.470 --> 00:10:19.470 And his tongue would hardly ever cease from enjoining good and forbidding evil, 00:10:19.470 --> 00:10:21.470 Going and returning. 00:10:21.470 --> 00:10:27.299 Silah ibn Ashyam, may Allah have mercy on him, used to go out to the graveyard, 00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:29.299 And worship there. 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:33.299 He would pass by young men who were playing and having fun, 00:10:33.299 --> 00:10:35.299 And he would say to them: 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:38.299 "Tell me about a people who wanted to travel," 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:41.299 "So they avoided the road during the day," 00:10:41.299 --> 00:10:43.299 "And slept during the night," 00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:45.299 "When will they complete their journey?" 00:10:45.299 --> 00:10:49.299 He would pass by them like that and counsel them. 00:10:49.299 --> 00:10:51.299 One day he passed by them, 00:10:51.299 --> 00:10:54.299 And said this statement to them. 00:10:54.299 --> 00:10:57.299 A young man among them became alert and said: 00:10:57.299 --> 00:11:01.299 "O people, he means none other than us," 00:11:01.299 --> 00:11:05.299 "We play during the day and sleep at night." 00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:10.340 Then he followed Silah and continued to accompany him to the graveyard, 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:13.340 Worshipping with him until he died. 00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:16.820 Musa Ibn Ibrahim narrated: 00:11:16.820 --> 00:11:20.820 I was in the presence of Ma'ruf al-Karkhi, may Allah have mercy on him, 00:11:20.820 --> 00:11:24.820 when a man was there mentioning another person and began to backbite him. 00:11:24.820 --> 00:11:27.820 Ma'ruf began saying to him, 00:11:27.820 --> 00:11:31.820 "Remember the cotton [used for the eyes of the deceased] when they place it upon your eyes." 00:11:31.820 --> 00:11:35.100 Muhammad Ibn al-Munkadir, may Allah have mercy on him, once passed 00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:38.100 by a young man who was flirting with a woman. 00:11:38.100 --> 00:11:40.100 He said, "O my son, 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:45.620 this is not how one repays the blessing that Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, has bestowed upon you." 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:48.620 Ibn Jarir, may Allah have mercy on him, was 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:51.620 someone who would not let the blame of any critic deter him from the cause of Allah, 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:55.620 despite the immense harm and defamation he endured 00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:58.620 from the ignorant, the envious, and the heretic.