enjoining good but not forbidding evil in tabligh jamaat?
this is from islamqa website
` They do not speak of munkaraat (evil things), thinking that enjoining what is good is sufficient. Hence we find that they do not speak about evils that are widespread among the people, even though the slogan of this ummah – which they continually repeat – is:
“Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:104 – interpretation of the meaning]
The successful are those who enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, not just those who do only one of the two. `
can you tell me if this is correct what islamqa has mentioned?
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The success of Tableegh Jamaat is well known. It is as clear as daylight. Thousands of people from all nationalities, Indians, Arabs, Africans and from almost every corner of the globe have inculcated self-consciousness after having affiliated themselves to the Tableegh Jamaat. People who would not perform salah have now become sensitive of missing a single salah with jama’ah. People who did not know of the basic issues of Deen have now educated themselves on Deen and seen the light of life. People who were liars have become truthful. People who were negligent towards their basic responsibilities of life have reformed themselves. In order to understand their efforts, one needs to observe the Tableegh Jamaat closely with a fair and objective mind. One will never understand the realities of Tableegh Jamaat by sitting in the ivory tower and trying to understand the Tableegh Jamaat.
Shariah advises of conveying the message of deen with wisdom. Allah Ta’āla says in the Qur’an,
ادع إلى سبيل ربك بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة وجادلهم بالتي هي أحسن إن ربك هو أعلم بمن ضل عن سبيله وهو أعلم بالمهتدين
Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way. Lo! Thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who go aright. (Surah al-Nahl, verse 125)
Commanding good and prohibiting is subjective.
If one does not adopt wisdom in his approach to convey the Deen, the purpose of Tableegh will be defeated. The focus should be I’maal (to make one practice) and not confine to I’laam (merely informing).
What is the point of prohibiting evil without wisdom when one will not desist or does not take heed?
The method of Tableegh Jamaat is to win people over with love and care and instil in them self-consciousness to adopt the Deen. Such consciousness will lead to abstaining from evil and prohibiting evil.
We are living in an era where we need to compliment all efforts of Deen. A house is not built with one wall. It will be senseless to build one wall of the house and condemn the contractor for not putting up the roof and windows due to rain and dust (Munkars-evils) coming in the house. The other walls and roof will protect the house from rain, dust etc.
The Tableegh Jamaat does not and cannot disagree in prohibiting evil. They adopt wisdom and diplomacy in successfully removing evil as witnessed by millions of people around the world.
As a principle, we all are human beings with deficiencies. No effort is flawless. Success lies in constructing our house of Deen with our shortcomings.
Bilal Issak
Student Darul Iftaa
Leicester, England, UK
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai