Amr Bil Ma’ruf Wa Nahi Anil Munkar: The Forgotten Duty of the Ummah
This Blog is compiled based on this workshop conducted by Sheikh Abdul Raziq Saudagar
Speaker: Sheikh Abdul Raziq Saudagar Workshop video link
Workshop Topic: Enjoining Good & Forbidding Evil | A Forgotten Obligation
Amr Bil Ma’ruf Wa Nahi Anil Munkar: The Forgotten Duty of the Ummah
In a time where evil is normalized, sins are defended, and silence has become easier than speaking the truth, Muslims must revive one of the greatest responsibilities Allah ﷻ placed upon this Ummah:
To encourage good and prevent evil. This is not merely the responsibility of scholars, imams, or community leaders. It is a duty upon every Muslim according to their ability.
Allah ﷻ says:
“Let there arise from among you a group inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. And it is they who are successful.”— Surah Aal ‘Imran 3:104
Allah ﷻ also says:
“You are the best nation produced for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.”— Surah Aal ‘Imran 3:110
These verses establish that the strength, honor, and success of this Ummah are directly tied to preserving righteousness and resisting corruption.
What Is “Amr Bil Ma’ruf Wa Nahi Anil Munkar”?
The phrase means:
Amr bil Ma’ruf → commanding and encouraging good Nahi anil Munkar → forbidding and discouraging evil
But what exactly is “good”? Good is not defined by society, trends, emotions, or public opinion.
Good is only what Allah and His Messenger ﷺ approved.
Likewise, evil is whatever Allah and His Messenger ﷺ prohibited — even if society normalizes it.
Today, many Muslims become confused because sins are constantly marketed as harmless, modern, progressive, or “personal choices.”
Music, immodesty, haram relationships, gambling, interest (riba), pornography, public sins, and shamelessness are increasingly treated as acceptable.
But Islam does not change according to society.
Truth remains truth even if people reject it.
The Prophet ﷺ Defined Our Responsibility
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is unable, then with his tongue. If he is unable, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.”— Sahih Muslim, Hadith 49 Sahih Muslim
This hadith establishes three levels of responsibility:
1**. Stopping Evil With Action**
This applies to those who possess authority or responsibility:
Parents within their homes Leaders within their communities Teachers with students Authorities with public matters
However, Islam does not permit chaos, oppression, or injustice in the name of correcting evil.
Wisdom and proper understanding are essential.
- **Speaking Against Evil ** If someone lacks authority, they should advise sincerely with wisdom, gentleness, and sincerity.
Allah ﷻ said to Musa عليه السلام and Harun عليه السلام when sending them to Fir‘awn:
“Speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear Allah.”— Surah Taha 20:44
Even Fir‘awn — one of history’s greatest tyrants — was approached with wisdom and softness.
So how should Muslims speak to family members, friends, and fellow believers?
- Hating Evil in the Heart
This is the minimum level of faith.
But hating evil in the heart does not mean continuing to casually support, celebrate, promote, or normalize it.
A believer cannot be completely comfortable with open disobedience to Allah.
The Destruction of Bani Isra’il Began With Silence
Allah ﷻ mentions a powerful story in the Qur’an regarding a community from Bani Isra’il who lived by the sea.
Allah tested them regarding the Sabbath.
He prohibited them from fishing on Saturday, yet fish appeared in abundance on that very day.
Allah ﷻ says:
“Ask them about the town that was by the sea — when they transgressed concerning the Sabbath — when their fish came to them openly on their Sabbath day, but on the day they had no Sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We test them because they were defiantly disobedient.”— Surah Al-A‘raf 7:163
Instead of obeying Allah sincerely, some people attempted to manipulate the command.
They placed fishing nets before Saturday and collected the fish afterward, pretending they had not violated the law.
They tried to deceive Allah. But Allah cannot be deceived.
The Three Groups Mentioned in the Story
The society divided into three groups:
- Those committing the sin
They openly violated Allah’s command.
- Those who warned against the sin
They advised, reminded, and tried to stop the wrongdoing.
Allah ﷻ says:
“And when a community among them said, ‘Why do you advise a people whom Allah is about to destroy or punish severely?’ they said, ‘To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they may fear Him.’”— Surah Al-A‘raf 7:164
The reformers understood something profound:
Even if people refuse guidance, believers must still fulfill their duty before Allah.
- **Those who remained silent ** They neither committed the sin nor stopped it.
Instead, they discouraged the reformers from speaking.
They said: “Why interfere? Leave people alone.”
This mentality exists everywhere today.
“It’s his personal life.” “Don’t judge.” “Everyone sins.” “Mind your own business.”
But public evil affects society.
Silence allows corruption to spread.
Allah Saved the Reformers
Allah ﷻ says:
“So when they forgot what they had been reminded of, We saved those who had forbidden evil and seized those who wronged with a terrible punishment because they were defiantly disobedient.”— Surah Al-A‘raf 7:165
Allah explicitly mentions saving the people who forbade evil.
But notice something terrifying:
Allah does not clearly praise the silent group.
Many scholars explained that their silence itself was dangerous.
A Warning From the Prophet ﷺ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ warned that societies collapse when evil becomes tolerated.
He ﷺ said:
“By the One in whose Hand is my soul, you must enjoin good and forbid evil, or Allah will soon send upon you a punishment from Him. Then you will call upon Him and He will not answer you.”— Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2169 Jami at-Tirmidhi
This is not merely about individual sins.
It is about the spiritual destruction of entire societies.
Advising Others Requires Wisdom
Islam does not permit arrogance, humiliation, or public shaming.
Advice should be sincere.
Private correction is often better than public embarrassment.
The goal is guidance — not winning arguments.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Religion is sincere advice.”— Sahih Muslim, Hadith 55 Sahih Muslim
True advice comes from mercy and concern for people’s akhirah.
Start With Your Own Home
The first place Muslims must revive righteousness is inside their own homes.
Allah ﷻ says:
“O* you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones.*”— Surah At-Tahrim 66:6
Parents, older siblings, and guardians cannot remain completely indifferent while openly haram behavior spreads within their households.
Ignoring evil does not solve it.
Gentle guidance, boundaries, wisdom, and consistent reminders are all part of Islamic responsibility.
The Ummah Cannot Survive on Silence
One of the greatest dangers today is becoming desensitized to sin.
Repeated exposure to evil eventually removes discomfort from the heart.
What once shocked people eventually becomes normal.
This is how societies spiritually decay.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, when people see an oppressor and do not stop him, Allah may soon punish them all.”— Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 4338
We Are Responsible According to Our Ability
Not every Muslim is a scholar.
Not every Muslim has authority.
But every believer has some responsibility.
Sometimes it is:
- a sincere reminder,
- a private conversation,
- distancing oneself from open evil,
- protecting one’s children,
- refusing to normalize sin,
- or simply hating evil in the heart.
Every effort matters.
Final Reflection
The question is not whether evil exists. It always has.
The real question is:
Which group will we belong to?
The people participating in corruption? The people remaining silent? Or the people sincerely trying to preserve truth with wisdom, patience, and mercy?
The Ummah does not lose its strength overnight.
It weakens when truth becomes uncomfortable and silence becomes easier than sincerity.
May Allah ﷻ make us among those who uphold truth with wisdom, protect our families and communities, and revive the prophetic duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil.
Ameen.