37. PREACHING AND ADMONITION

God said

Whoever rallies to a good cause shall have a share in its blessings; and whoever rallies to an evil cause shall be answerable for his part in it: …. Q.4: 85

And whenever some people among them asked [those who tried to restrain the Sabbath-breakers], “Why do you preach to people whom God is about to destroy or [at least] to chastise with suffering severe?” – the pious ones would answer, “In order to be free from blame before your Sustainer, and that these [transgressors, too,] might become conscious of Him.” And thereupon, when those [sinners] had forgotten all that they had been told to take to heart, We saved those who had tried to prevent the doing of evil, and overwhelmed those who had been bent on evildoing with dreadful suffering for all their iniquity; -- Q.7: 164,165

Now, among those whom We have created there are people who guide [others] in the way of the truth and act justly in its light. *-- Q.7: 181
* It includes the righteous of all times and communities – that is, all those who are receptive to God’s messages and live up to them by virtue of their conviction that God is the Ultimate Reality.

Make due allowance for man’s nature,* and enjoin the doing of what is right; and leave alone all those who choose to remain ignorant. -- Q. 7:199
* Lit., “accept what is easily forthcoming [from man’s nature]”. According to Zamakhshari, khudh al-‘afw means: “Accept what comes easily to thee [or “what is willingly accorded to thee”] of the doings and the nature of men, and make things easy [for them], without causing them undue hardship (kulfah): and do not demand of them efforts that may be too difficult for them.

And the believers, both men and women – they are close unto one another: they [all] enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, …. Q.9: 71
This is an exemplary moral education system in Islam, which is neglected today. It is often observed that if asked to wipe the spot on the face we do it with thanks. But if asked to cleanup the conduct we don’t like it. So much concern for the body that will be left here to rot and decay. Yet, no concern for the spots in our conduct for which we will have to heavily pay in the Hereafter! There is great need to rectify our this lopsided attitude, which has been a barrier to the sin-checking system stressed by God.
Next time, if luckily, someone, man or woman corrects our conduct let us say “thank you”.


Prophet said

1. “By Him in whose hand is my life, you must enjoin good and forbid evil*, otherwise it is near that God will send chastisement upon you from Himself. You will then call Him but you will not be responded to!” – H: Tirmizi. N: Huzaifa.

2. “…Let the fear of men never prevent any of you to speak the truth when he knows it….” – H: Tirmizi. N: Abu Sayeed-al-Khodri.

3. “Facilitate things to people (concerning religious matters), and do not make it hard for them and give them good tidings, and do not make them run away (from Islam).” – H: Bukhari. N: Anas-b-Malik.