Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid urged on the importance of the Islamic responsibility of ‘enjoining the good and forbidding the bad’ and put the spread of misdeeds in the society the fruit of negligence in this regard.
Khateeb of Sunnis began his Friday sermon of August 22, 2014 by the Noble Qur’anic verse: «وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ», (There has to be a group of people from among you who call towards the good, and bid the Fair and forbid the Unfair. And it is these who are successful.); [3: 104]
He said, “Before the prophethood of the last prophet, peace be upon him, it was the way of Allah to dispatch prophets for the maintenance of the true religions and to preach them. But when the last and beloved messenger Muhammad, peace be upon him and the rest of the messengers, the gate of prophethood was closed and this duty came on the shoulders of the Muslim nation.”
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan, the biggest Sunni seminary in Iran, further said, “We can be prosperous when we take any step in the life according to the principles and basis of Taqwa (i.e. piety). The Almighty has warned us in the Noble Qur’an over the efforts of Jews and Christians to get us away from the guidance and Islam. But we must abide with the religion and remain pious. It is the way to be protected and safe by the blessings of Allah. If Muslims are divided instead of holding fast to the cord of Allah and unity, it would be the result of impiety. When people go away from piety, they get involved in misdeeds and sins putting their faith at risk.”
Shedding light on the importance of ‘enjoining the good & forbidding the bad’, Khateeb of Sunnis stated, “According to the Qur’an and Sunnah, there must be a group of people who call on the others towards the good deeds and meditate how to reform the society. The messenger of Allah invited ‘Abu-Jahl’ and ‘Abu-Lahab’ many times towards Islam; he never got bored in this mission. We are ordered to bid the good and forbid the unfair before it is too late and the punishment of Allah reveals. Then the prays would not be accepted.”
“It is regretful that Muslims suffer from division and sectarian differences; they have forgotten their duties. If someone witnesses any misdeed and he does not show any reaction to stop it, as much as he can, in fact he has neglected his responsibility; such people would be questioned on the Accountability Day,” he added more.
Alluding to the barbaric crimes of the sinister Israeli regime against the oppressed and defendless people of Gaza, Mawlana Abdol-Hamid said, “The oppressed Palestinians have been suffering from the war crimes and genocide just because Muslims have gone away from the path of the guidance. The only solution to this crisis is return to Deen (i.e. Islam). We should not disobey Allah and violate the rights of people.”
The outstanding Islamic scholar termed the breakout of misdeeds in the society ‘fruit’ of Muslims’ negligence in their religious duty of ‘enjoining the good and forbidding the bad’. He said, “Unfortunately negligence is widespread; people do not offer the five-time prayers in congregation. There are various kinds of alcohols, drugs and illicit relations. Different misdeeds and the culture of disbelievers have been prevailed in Muslim societies; all of that happened due to leaving the responsibility of ‘enjoining the good and forbidding the bad’. So we should support the Jamā’at Tabligh movement and strive to purify ourselves and the society.
At the end of his speech, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid called on parents to take the issue of their children’s education seriously as they are their real wealth not properties and money.