DOWNLOAD AUDIO > Hadith 34 | Forbidding Evil with the Hands, Tongue, and Heart
Lessons from Ahâdeeth Shareef by Moulana Naeem Motala | Commentary on 40 ahâdeeth | Arba’een | of Imaam Nawawi رحمة الله عليه with emphasis on perfecting one’s character
| Lesson Thirty-Five |
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اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنُؤمِنُ بِهِ وَ نَتَوَ كَّلُ عَلَيهِ ، وَنَعُوْذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُوْرِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلاَ مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلاَ هَادِيَ لَهُ ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَناَ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Verily all praise is for Allah, we praise Him and seek His aid and ask for His forgiveness and we believe in Him and we place our trust upon Him, and we seek refuge with Allah from the evils of ourselves and our evil actions. Whomsoever Allah guides there is none who can misguide him, and whomsoever Allah misguides there is none who can guide him, and we bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped except Allah alone, having no partner, and we bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger
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اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِناَ مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِناَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَبَارِكْ وَسَلِّمْ
Allahumma Salli ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammad Wa’ala Aali Sayyidina Muhammadin Wa Baarik Wa Sallim | Oh Allah shower blessings and peace upon our Master Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam and upon the family of Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam
Hadith 34 | Forbidding Evil with the Hands, Tongue, and Heart
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ سَمِعْت رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم يَقُولُ: “مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ، وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الْإِيمَانِ
On the authority of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri Radiallahu Anhu who said: “I heard Rasullullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam say, “Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” [Muslim رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ]
| BRIEF EXPLANTION |
We have been instructed in this Hadith to prohibit evil to the best of our ability and capacity. Where Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala has commanded this Ummah with righteousness and avoidance of vice, Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala has also charged this Ummah with the responsibility of propagating good and forbidding evil.
Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala has mentioned in the Noble Qur’aan :
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ
You are the best nation produced for mankind. You enjoin good and forbid evil and believe in Allah. ~ Surah ‘Aale `Imraan 3:110
Therefore, enjoining good and forbidding evil is a responsibility of the Ummah of Rasullullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. In other verses, as well, we see that the quality of the Believers is that they are friends of one another, who command good and forbid evil.
One who possesses the capacity (physical strength), capability (resource) and authority to prohibit evil, should do so by means of his hand. If he is unable to do so by means of his hand, then he should (at least) do so by means of his tongue. If this too is not possible, the he should (at least) feel a repugnance in his heart. If he feels no repulsion against that evil (in his heart), this is indicative that the light of Imaan has been extinguished in his heart. May Allah Ta’ala protect us …
Those who do not stop others from acts of disobedience and evil, Allah Ta’ala will strike them with a punishment before they die. Also, Allah Ta’ala will encompass all the people with punishment, even the good-doers. On account of them (the good-doers) not preventing evil, they too will be afflicted with a general punishment. Dua’s will be unanswered by Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala as a consequence of not prohibiting evil.