Ordering the Lawful and Forbidding the Unlawful
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم
We start with the name of Allâh. We praise Allâh and thank Him for the blessings of Islam. We humbly ask Allâh to raise the rank of our Prophet Muḥammad, and his kind Al and Companions and to protect his nation from that which he fears for it. We ask Allâh to grant us the proper intention, the Comprehension, and the reward in the Hereafter. Thereafter:
When the Prophet received the Revelation of Prophethood, he began to call the people to Islam. The Prophet made reference to the state of ignorance prevalent at that time in a Hadith related by Muslim and others. He said:
"بدأ الدينُ غريباً وسيعودُ غريباً كما بدأ فطوبى للغرباء قيلَ ومنِ الغرباءُ يا رسولَ الله قالَ الّذينَ يُصلحونَ ما أفسدَ الناسُ من سُنّتي"
which means: « When this Religion started, it was strange to the people, and it shall be strange again as when it started. Extremely blessed at that time will be the strangers, those who correct what other people have contravened among the laws of the Prophet. »
Allâh ta`âlâ said in the Qur'ân:
﴿ كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ ﴾
(kuntum khayra 'ummatin 'ukhrijat li n-Nâs ta'murûna bi l-ma`rûfi wa tanhawna `ani l-munkari wa tu'minûna bi l-Lâh)
which means: « You are the best of the nations to come forth to the people, ordering the lawful and forbidding the unlawful. » [Surat Al `Imrân, Ayah 110]
Prophet Muḥammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said:
« مَن رَّأَى مِنْكُم مُّنكَراً فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه وذلك أضعف الإيمان »
(man-ra’â minkum munkaran falyughayyirhu biyadih fa'in lam yastaTi` fabilisânihi fa'in lam yastaTi` fabiqalbihi wa dhâlika 'aḍ`afu l-'îmân)
which means: « whomever amongst you sees an evil that is practiced, he must change it by his hand, if he is incapable, with his tongue and if he is incapable, he must hate that by his heart, and this being the minimum that faith requires. » [Related by Muslim].
And Prophet Muḥammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said:
« إذا رأيت أمتي تهاب أن تقول للظالم يا ظالم فقد تودّع منهم »
which means: « If you see my nation fearful of telling he who is unjust, "You are unjust" then know the support of Allāh is withdrawn from them. » [Related by Al Hâkim in al Mustadrak]
The Prophet ordered us to command the lawful and forbid the unlawful. He said:
« ليس منا من لم يُوَقِر كبيرنا ويرحمْ صغيرَنا ويأمرُ بالمعروفِ وينهَ عنِ المنكر »
which means: « He who does not respect the elderly among us, is not merciful to the youngsters among us, and does not command the lawful and forbid the unlawful is not following our methodology. » [Related by Ibnu Ḥibbân in his ṣaḥīḥ]
By this, we are responsible to clarify the truth and the path of Ahlu s-sunnah wal Jamâ`ah, and to warn from the misguided groups and people who deviated with their sayings from the true sunnah of the Prophet.
I ask Allâh to guide us to what is acceptable, enable us to be always steadfast on the path of the Prophet, and to be always protectors and defenders of the creed that the Prophet brought to the people.
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