The following are examples
of what Islam has commanded:
1. Justice and equity.
Allah (s.w.t.) says:
Verily, Allah enjoins justice and doing deeds of
righteousness perfectly, and giving (help) to kith and kin; and forbids all licentious acts, evil, and
oppression, He admonishes you, that you may take heed. [16:90]
Abu Bakr () the first Caliph of Islam, said the following
words when he took command:
“Those who you regard as
strong are weak in my sight until I take the rights they owe, and the weak are
strong until I give them their right. Obey me as long as I obey Allah in your
regards…”
One must be just in regards to both relatives as well as those who
are not related to him. Allah () says:
And whenever you give your
word [i.e. judge between men or
give evidence, etc.], say the truth even if a near relative is concerned,
and fulfill the Covenant of Allah, This He commands you that you may remember.
[6:152]
Justice should be shown in times of pleasure and in times of
anger, to Muslims and disbelievers. Allah () says:
O you who believe! Stand
out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of
others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear
Allah. Verily, Allah is Well Acquainted with what you do. [5:8]
Allah states that justice
may be imposed by force. Allah () says:
Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear
proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance [justice] that mankind may keep up justice. And
We brought forth iron wherein is mighty power (in matters of war), as
well as many benefits for mankind. [57:25]
In explaining this verse, SheikIslam b. Taymiyyah said:
“The goal of sending Messengers and revealing
Books is that humans stand for justice, which is achieved through fulfilling
the rights of Allah and the rights of His creation. Whoever deviates away from
the Book, he is straightened with ‘iron’.”
2. Preferring Others Over
Oneself.
It enjoins preferring others over oneself, for it is an indication
of true love and well-wishing of which its results can be clearly felt in
society. It builds and strengthens individual bonds and is indicative of their
love to help and serve one another.
Allah () says praising those who prefer good for others
over themselves:
…and they give others
preference over themselves, even though they were in need. And whosoever is
saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful. [59:9]
3. Make Friends and Gather With Righteous
Companions
It commands that one seek
company with the righteous and forbids that one seek evil companionship.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) gave
an excellent example explaining the consequences of keeping company of both good
and evil people. He () said:
“The example of a
righteous and evil companion is like one who carries perfume and another who is
a blacksmith. As for the one who carries perfume, he will either give you some
perfume, you might buy some, or (at least) you will find a pleasing scent with him. As for the
blacksmith, either he [the blacksmith] will burn his clothes, or he will
find a hideous odor from him.” [al-Bukhari]
would 4. Reconciling With People at Time of Dispute.
It orders that Muslims
strive to reconcile between people at times of dispute or disunity.
Allah () says:
There is no good in most
of their secret talks save (in) him
who orders charity, righteous acts, or conciliation between mankind, and he who
does this, seeking the good Pleasure of Allah, We shall give him a great
reward. [4:114]
Reconciling between people has a great reward, similar to the
reward of prayer, fasting, and other obligatory acts of worship. The Prophet
(s.a.w.) said:
“Shall I not inform you of
a level even better than the Fast, the Prayer, and charity? Reconciling between
people, for indeed disunity between people is what uproots the Religion.” [Abu Dawood & at-Tirmidhi]
Islam has legalized lying
in this regard…to make people unite and prevent division. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
“I do not regard a lie when a person tries to
reconcile between people saying something not intending what was understood, (whether to) reconcile between people, at times
of war, or a husband or wife in order to please their spouse.” [Abu
Dawood]
The Prophet (s.a.w.) also
said:
“He is not a liar… him who seeks to reconcile
between people by saying good things about him.” [al-Bukhari]
5. Enjoy Goodness and Prevent Evil
It commands that Muslims enjoin virtue and righteousness and prevent evil and vice with all means
possible, each according to his ability.
This is the basis for
security in society which prevents the spread of injustice, moral corruption,
and ensures that rights are maintained and the law that is implemented is the Shari'ah,
not laws of pandemonium. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
“Whoever of you sees an evil act, let him change
it with his hand, if he is not able, then with his tongue, and if he is not
able, then with his heart, and that is the weakest [level] of Imaan.” [Muslim]
Through this, those who are ignorant of some aspects of Islam
would learn them, and those who are heedless would be admonished. The morally
corrupt are rectified while those who are righteous are helped, and the Law of
Allah is upheld and implemented. Allah () says:
Help you one another in righteousness and piety;
and do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily,
Allah is Severe in punishment. [5:2]
The Prophet (s.a.w.) explained
the consequences if people stop enjoining the good and forbidding evil. He () said:
“The likes of those who stay within the limits set
by Allah and those who trespass them is like a group of people who divided
their places on a ship (before
setting out to sea). Some of them were on the top deck while others were on
the lower deck. When those on the lower deck required water, they had to pass
by those on top. So they said, ‘If we make a hole in our part, we will not
have to bother those on top.’ If they (those on top) left them to do
as they pleased, they would all be destroyed, and if they were stopped they
would all be saved.” [al-Bukhari]
the arro
Those among the Children
of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, son of
Mary. That was because they disobeyed (Allah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond
bounds.
*They used not to forbid
one another from the evil which they committed. Vile indeed was what they used
to do. [5:78-9]
Islam, however, has
prescribed some guidelines and principles which must be followed when enjoining
good and prohibiting evil. From them are the following:
a. The one who takes up
this task must be knowledgeable about what he enjoins or prohibits, so that he
would not cause the person he is talking to stray away from the Religion. Sufyaan
bin Abdullah ath-Thaqafi said:
“I said: 'O Messenger
of Allah (s.a.w.), advise me with something which I can abide by.' He said:
'Say My Lord is Allah, and then stay upright.' I said: 'O Messenger
of Allah (s.a.w.), what do you fear for me the most?' He then took hold of
his tongue and said: 'This!'” [at–Tirmidhi]
Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
'The reason the Prophet
(s.a.w.) held his tongue with his hand, and said: 'this' when he could
have said 'the tongue' without holding it with his hand was that the Prophet
(s.a.w.) knew well the knowledge he was teaching people; so he wanted to apply
the knowledge he was teaching…he knew this knowledge because he told the one
who asked: 'the thing I fear most, is that it would lead you through many
trials'…so he ordered him to refrain from talking much. Therefore, the Prophet
(s.a.w.) applied what he knew, to clarify the difference between places a
person should seek knowledge and when he should give knowledge.'
b. Prohibiting an evil
should not lead to a greater one being committed.
c. He should not engage in what he prohibits nor should he neglect
what he enjoins. Allah (s.w.t.) says:
O you who believe! Why do
you say that which you do not do? * Most hateful it is with Allah that you say
that which you do not do. [61:2-3]
d. He should be gentle and kind when he enjoins or prohibits. The Prophet
(s.a.w.) said:
“Nothing is done with kindness except that it is
beautified, and nothing is devoid of kindness except that it is disfigured.” [Muslim]
e. He should also bear any inconvenience resulting from this task.
Allah (s.w.t.) mentions that Luqman said in his great
advice to his son:
O my son, establish
prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong and be patient over what
befalls you. Indeed that is of the matters (requiring) determination. [31:17]
6. Islam has enjoined good manners.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
“The most complete
Believers in terms of faith are those who have the best manners, and the best
of you is the best to his family.” [at-Tirmidhi]
The Prophet (s.a.w.) also pointed out the reward of good manners.
He said:
“The most beloved and
closest of you to me on the Day of Requital are the best of you in character.
And indeed the most hated and farthest of you to me on the Day of Requital are
those who talk with affectation, boast, and the ‘Mutafayhiqoon’.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) We
understood those who talk with affectation and those who boast, but who are the
‘Mutafayhiqoon’?” He said: “The arrogant.” [at-Tirmidhi]
7. Islam has enjoined acts
of kindness.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
“Indeed Allah is
benevolent and loves benevolence, and excellent manners, and dislikes poor
manners.” [Tabraani in al-Awsat]
8. Carrying out
Investigation before Judgement
Islam has legislated that one confirm reports before issuing a
judgment concerning them.
Allah () says:
O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you
with a news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you
become regretful to what you have done. [49:6]
9. Islam has enjoined that
people be sincere towards others.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
“The Religion is
sincerity.” We asked, “To whom?” He
replied, “To Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger, and to the leaders of the
Muslims and their general folk.” [Muslim]
Being sincere to Allah is
achieved by believing in Him, worshipping Him alone, negating any partners that
are associated with him, and declaring Him far removed from any imperfection in
His Names and Attributes.
One should believe that He
is the Disposer of all affairs of this universe. Whatever He wills must come to
pass, and whatever He does not, will never be. One must comply with all His
commands and avoid His prohibitions.
Sincerity towards His Book is realized by believing that it is the
Word of Allah, revealed by Him, and that it is the last of the Heavenly
Scriptures. One must apply and abide by its commands, and hold as lawful all
that it has declared as such, and refrain from all that is prohibited therein.
Sincerity towards His
Messenger entails that one obey his orders, believe everything He informed us
of, and refrain from that which He prohibited. He must be loved and respected,
and his Sunnah must be followed and disseminated amongst the masses.
One must show sincerity to
the leaders of the Muslims by obeying them unless they enjoin sin, by guiding
them to that which is best and helping them in it, and by abstaining from
rebelling against them. Rather, they must be advised gently and reminded of the
rights of the people.
Sincerity towards the
Muslim masses is achieved by guiding them to what is good and beneficial, both
in matters concerning their Religion and worldly life.
One should help them in
fulfilling their needs, and protect them from harm. One should love for them
what he loves for himself and dislike for them what he dislikes for himself,
and he should treat them in the same manner he would like to be treated.
10. Islam has enjoined generosity due to the
affection and love it spreads.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
“Nothing is heftier in the
scale than good manners.” [Abu Dawood]
Allah (s.w.t.) set a guideline in the following verse defining the limits of
generosity.
Allah (s.w.t.) says:
And let not your hand be
tied (like a miser) to your
neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach (like a spendthrift), so
that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty. [17:29]
11. Help People in Time of Distress
Islam has enjoined
concealing people’s faults and helping to relieve their distress and to ease
their affairs.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
“Whoever eases some
distress of a Muslim in this world, Allah will ease some distress of his on the
Day of Recompense. Whoever eases the burden of a loan (by repaying it, pardoning it, or extending the
time period for payment) for one for whom it is hard to repay it, Allah will
make things easy for him in this life as well as the next. Whoever covers the
fault of a Muslim, Allah will cover his faults in this life and the next. Allah
continues to help his slave as long as he helps his brothers.” [Muslim]
12. Islam Enjoined and
Encouraged Patience.
Islam has enjoined and encouraged patience, whether in doing deeds
of obedience or refraining from prohibitions.
Allah (s.w.t.) says:
So wait patiently for the Decision of your Lord, for verily,
you are under Our Eyes. [52:48]
It has also enjoined
patience in facing the different trials through which Allah tests His slaves,
such as poverty, hunger, disease, and fear. Allah (s.w.t.) says:
And certainly, We shall
test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but
give glad tidings to the patient. * Who, when afflicted with calamity, say:
‘Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’ * They are those
on whom are the blessings from their Lord, and receive Mercy, and it is they
who are the guided-ones. [2:155-7]
13. Suppress Your Anger & Pardon People When
They Hurt You.
Islam commands that one
suppress his anger and pardon others while having the ability to take revenge.
This strengthens the bonds
between the members of the society and distances those things which may raise
enmity and sever ties. Allah (s.w.t.) has promised a great reward and has
highly praised those who try to acquire this characteristic.
Allah (s.w.t.) says:
And race to forgiveness
from your Lord, and for a Garden as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared
for the pious. Those who spend in times of prosperity and adversity, who
repress their anger, and who pardon others; verily, Allah loves the doers of
good. [3:133-4]
Islam orders that one
return an evil act with goodness in order to join the hearts and remove hatred
as well as to deter one from taking revenge. Allah (s.w.t.) says:
The good deed and the evil
deed are not equal. Repel (the
evil) with one which is better. Then verily he, between whom and you there
was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend. [41:34]
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