A Muslim in Society

Forbidding What Is Wrong

Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (s) said:

“Surely Allah, the Almighty, dislikes the believer who is weak in his faith” He was asked: 'Who is the believer who is weak in his faith?' He answered: “The one who does not forbid what is wrong.”[^1]

Human society contains people who like to do good and righteous deeds that benefit all people and put right the wrong in society. These people never do forbidden acts, neither do they abandon their obligations or acts of charity.

On the other hand there are people who are wicked and corrupt. They seek to spread corruption. They do sinful and harmful deeds in the society in which they live, such as: deceiving, drinking alcohol, gambling, hoarding food supplies, transgressing the rights of others, dealing drugs, and spreading promiscuity. They take power over the society and rule with oppression and enmity. They govern with injustice and disobey the Islamic laws and system.

It is obligatory for all Muslims to stand against such corruption and prevent it from continuing. These corrupt people disobey Allah's orders and do not defend the laws of the Islamic society, nor do they respect the rights of others.

Allah, the Just, will hold the Muslims accountable, and punish them on the Day of Judgement if they keep silent against such people. Indeed, whoever keeps silent against corruption, he encourages its spread! These peddlers of corruption are like germs in the human body; they destroy it completely and even contaminate others if they are not stopped.

The Holy Prophet of Allah (s) says, that whoever does not forbid what is wrong is weak in faith and has no sincerity towards his religion. If a Muslim is true and sincere in his belief, he will do his utmost to prevent such wicked and harmful deeds.

Let us be truthful and sincere believers who do what is right and forbid what is wrong. Such actions are among the qualities of the prophets (peace be upon them). Let us not be weak in faith or be passive to what is wrong.

Summary

  1. Forbidding what is wrong is an obligation upon every Muslim who can perform it. It is among the means of reforming and saving the society from evil and corruption.

  2. Among the qualifications of a believer is enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong.

  3. Whoever does not forbid what is wrong is weak in his faith, because he does not defend Allah's religion.

  4. Indeed Allah dislikes the one who keeps silent when seeing any forbidden act.

[^1]: Al-Hurr al-Amili, Wasa'il al-Shi'a Bab al-Amir bil Ma'roof.