IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST COMPASSIONATE, THE MOST MERCIFUL
BEING THE THIRD SERMON OF JUMADA AL-AWWAL, DATED 13/5/1446 AH (15/11/2024)
TOPIC: ENJOINING GOOD AND FORBIDDING EVIL WITHIN THE FAMILY
THE FIRST SERMON
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. We praise Him, thank Him, seek His help and guidance, and repent to Him. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can mislead, and whomsoever He allows to go astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without any partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. O Allah, send Your blessings and peace upon him, his family, his companions, and all those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed,
O servants of Allah, I advise you and myself to fear Allah both in public and private, as this is the ultimate goal of all acts of worship and commandments. Allah Almighty has said: (يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ) “O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous” (Quran 2:21).
O servants of Allah, enjoining good and forbidding evil is an obligation upon every Muslim according to their ability. It is not nullified by a lack of memorized evidence, so long as you are confident in the impermissibility of what you are condemning. There is a debate over whether it remains obligatory if one is certain that those they admonish will not respond. However, if evil is being committed within one’s family, it is obligatory to teach and gently forbid them from sin, warning them of actions that incur Allah’s wrath, regardless of their surprise or ridicule. A Muslim must speak the truth even if others dislike it, and bear patiently with any mockery or disdain. The obligation becomes even stronger when there is no one else within the community or family to teach the prohibition of evil. Allah says: (وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَكَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُور) “And enjoin what is right; forbid what is wrong; and bear patiently whatever befalls you. Surely, this is a resolve to aspire to” (Quran 31:17). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would take an oath of allegiance from his companions to always speak the truth, as related in the hadith of ‘Ubadah ibn as-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: “We gave allegiance to the Messenger of Allah to hear and obey in times of ease and difficulty, whether we like it or not, and to speak the truth wherever we are, fearing no criticism in the cause of Allah” (Bukhari and Muslim).
VIRTUES OF ENJOINING GOOD AND FORBIDDING EVIL
1. It is a special characteristic of the Muslim Ummah, making it the best of nations. Allah says: (كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلْنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ المُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللهِ) “You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah” (Quran 3:110).
2. It brings success, as Allah says: (ولتكن منكم أمّة يدعون إلى الخير ويأمرون بالمعروف وينهون عن المنكروأولئك هم المفلحون) “Let there be among you a group calling others to goodness, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. It is they who will be successful” (Quran 3:104).
3. It is a true way of following the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), particularly when done with knowledge and certainty. Allah says: (قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي) “Say, ‘This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me’ (Quran 12:108).
O believers! Enjoining good and forbidding evil must start with one’s own family, from the closest relatives outward. Allah says: (يَا أيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَآلِىكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلاَئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَا يَعْصُونَ اللهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ) “O you who believe! Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded” (Quran 66:6). There are several prevalent forms of immorality within households that require immediate attention and eradication, including:
A. Engaging in Entertainment Excessively: In our era, entertainment has become a “form of art” that reaches everyone. There are types of entertainment that are prohibited, disliked, and permissible, but only in moderation. Although the Islamic religion does not forbid permissible recreation and lawful entertainment within the limits of Sharia, it prohibits excessive indulgence in them, especially when they lead to neglecting prayers and immersing oneself in desires. This immersion can make a person to become like an addict or an idol worshiper, careless about the consequences, indifferent to death, life, or resurrection. As Allah says: (فَخَلَفَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا * إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَأُولَئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا) “But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil – Except those who repent, believe, and do righteousness. For those will enter Paradise, and they will not be wronged at all” (Maryam: 59-60).
As for “successors,” Al-Tabari explained: “After these prophets whom I mentioned and whom I blessed, a generation of evil arose on earth, neglecting prayer.”
Neglecting prayer refers to delaying it beyond its prescribed time, abandoning it, or failing to fulfill its conditions (as mentioned in Al-Nukat wa Al-‘Uyun, 3/379). All of this can result from immersing oneself in entertainment and desires and becoming infatuated with the adornments of this world.
One of the responsibilities of parents—especially fathers—is to diligently protect their children from the harms of excessive indulgence in entertainment and addiction to it. This indulgence often becomes the child’s reality if they are neglected during their upbringing and are not guided to discern between what is beneficial and harmful. These influences often seep in through media channels from non-Islamic societies, leading, over time, to a gradual detachment from the religion. This aligns with the noble verse that warns of neglecting prayers first and then following desires and immersing oneself in them afterward.
Preventing this intellectual invasion entirely has become nearly impossible. What remains is proper Islamic upbringing, starting within the home—a primary responsibility of parents—combined with the efforts of other educational institutions. Otherwise, the consequences of neglect are dire. This is highlighted in the hadith of Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him), in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“There will be people among my nation who will consider fornication, silk, alcohol, and musical instruments as lawful. And there will be people who will settle near a mountain, and when their shepherd comes to them in the evening with their flock, a poor person will come to them seeking help, and they will say: ‘Come back to us tomorrow.’ Allah will destroy them during the night, bringing down the mountain upon them, and He will transform others into monkeys and pigs until the Day of Judgment.”
(Narrated by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Drinks, Chapter on Those Who Consider Alcohol Lawful, 10/51).
B. Severing Family Ties and Neglecting Relatives
It has become common for months to pass without one knowing anything about their relatives, let alone checking on their needs or maintaining connections. This negligence can occur at both individual and family levels. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned, saying: “A person who severs family ties will not enter Paradise.” This was narrated by Jubayr ibn Mut’im from his father (may Allah be pleased with them). It is also recorded by Muslim in the Book of Righteousness and Maintaining Ties (2556).
C. Misuse of the Tongue
The improper use of speech manifests in numerous ways, such as insulting, cursing, backbiting, lying, and disparaging someone’s lineage or profession. All these are acts of disobedience. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Insulting a Muslim is an act of disobedience, and fighting him is disbelief.” This hadith is agreed upon and recorded by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Faith (48) and by Muslim in the Book of Faith (64).
Abdullah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe, and a migrant is one who abandons what Allah has forbidden.”
This hadith is agreed upon and recorded by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Faith (10) and by Muslim in the Book of Faith (40).
Among the gravest misdeeds of the tongue is lying, which is a characteristic of hypocrites. A true Muslim cannot be a liar. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked, “Can a believer be cowardly?” He said, “Yes.” “Can a believer be miserly?” He said, “Yes.” “Can a believer be a liar?” He said, “No.” This narration was reported by Safwan ibn Sulaim (may Allah be pleased with him) and is found in *Al-Muwatta* by Malik in the Book of Miscellaneous Matters (1571).
D- Excessiveness in food, drink, clothing, transportation, and furnishings is strongly discouraged in Islam. Extravagance and wastefulness are condemned in all aspects of life. Allah says: (وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا * إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفُورًا) “Do not be wasteful, for indeed the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and Satan was ungrateful to his Lord.” (Surah Al-Isra, 26–27)
Allah also commands moderation: (وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ) “Eat and drink, but do not waste; indeed, He does not like the wasteful.” (Surah Al-A’raf, 31).
Moreover, He advises balance in spending: (وَلَا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَى عُنُقِكَ وَلَا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَحْسُورًا) “Do not keep your hand chained to your neck (in stinginess), nor extend it completely (in extravagance), lest you sit blameworthy and destitute.” (Surah Al-Isra, 29).
Some Examples of Extravagance:
Examples of extravagance include excessive spending on wedding banquets, celebration parties, daily meals, iftar tables during Ramadan, replacing household furniture every year, or changing the car model without a valid need other than novelty. It can also include using decorative pillows and curtains with images, hiring multiple servants and drivers without necessity, simply for display. The forms of extravagance are numerous, and if we were to list and provide examples, it would be extensive.
Servants of Allah, there is no doubt that parents serve as the immediate practical role models for children in speaking wisely and avoiding all tongue-related misdeeds. A child observes values, morals, and honorable qualities through their parents, imitates them, and learns that their parents’ behavior is the right path to follow. Therefore, it is essential for parents to fulfill this educational role effectively and avoid mistakes that their children might imitate.
As the old saying goes:
“A young person among us grows up upon what his father has accustomed him to.”
We ask Allah Almighty to rectify our affairs and to bless us with righteous children.
THE SECOND SERMON
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon His noble Messenger, his family, and companions.
To proceed:
O honorable servants of Allah, Allah’s laws in creation are consistent; they do not change, nor do they favor anyone. One of Allah’s past principles is to impose punishment upon societies that neglect the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil. Allah says: “Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed. They used not to prevent one another from wrongdoing that they did. How wretched was that which they were doing” (Quran 5:78-79).
Among the consequences of neglecting this duty are the following:
1- Falling into Desires and Being Overwhelmed by Them:
This behavior leads people to become overly attached to worldly matters, weak-spirited, and lacking seriousness. A young man whose only concerns are indulgence in immoral songs, obscene magazines, degrading visual media, lustful phone calls, or trips to lands of permissiveness and immorality—such a person, whose life revolves entirely around desires, cannot free himself from the shackles of worldly attachments or strive for beneficial knowledge. Can such a person bear arms to defend himself or his nation?
Undoubtedly, he cannot, as he has become accustomed to clinging to worldly pleasures and desires, and he is unfamiliar with seriousness and discipline.
You can see evidence of this when observing the reality of many young people sent abroad to Western countries, for example. Among them, you will find the religious and upright youth diligently pursuing their education because they carry the concerns of their nation and do not worship desires or become enslaved by the base attractions of the world.
In contrast, the lustful and deviant youth are engrossed in their desires and passions, lacking seriousness in their studies, and trivial in their interests. Such individuals do not carry any concern beyond fulfilling their whims, causing the nation to lose them and turning them into a burden upon it.
In Muslim societies, there is no doubt that neglecting the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil leads to society’s youth drowning in pleasures and whims, which prevent them from aspiring to higher endeavors.
2- Economic Crises
Economic crises may afflict a society that neglects the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil, leaving it battered by waves of poverty and hardship, experiencing the anguish of deprivation.
Some Muslim societies have descended into such dire poverty that their conditions evoke pity. Individuals struggle relentlessly for mere sustenance, yet often fail to secure even that. This dire need may drive them to seek help from Christian missionaries lying in wait, who exploit their resources to convert Muslims. Consequently, this leads to some Muslims falling into the trap of Christianization, may Allah protect us. The preoccupation with securing basic needs may cause a person to forget much of their religion, distancing them from it and diminishing its significance in their lives.
One of the most glaring examples of this is the economic devastation brought upon societies due to the neglect of forbidding the evil of usury (riba). This negligence has inflicted immense calamities upon Muslim communities, exacerbating living and economic disparities. The poor become even poorer, while the wealthy grow wealthier. Wealth becomes concentrated among the elite, leaving the nation on the brink of profound destruction.
Even Western research centers now predict a grim future for capitalism within the next decade or two, similar to the fate communism suffered.
Allah says: (فَهَلْ يَنْتَظرُونَ إلا مثْلَ أَيَّام الَّذينَ خَلَوْا منْ قَبْلهمْ قُلْ فَانتَظرُوا إنِّي مَعَكُمْ منَ المُنْتَظرينَ) “Are they waiting for anything except the days of those who passed away before them? Say: ‘Wait, then I am with you among those who wait.’” (Yunus: 102)
3- Unanswered Prayers
Dear servants of Allah! When harm touches a person, they turn to Allah alone, calling upon Him to remove the hardship. Even polytheists do this, as Allah says in the Quran: (ثُمَّ إذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فَإليْه تَجْأَرُونَ) “Then when harm touches you at sea, those you call upon besides Him have disappeared, and only to Him you call.” (An-Nahl: 53)
(وَإذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ في البَحْر ضَلَّ مَنْ تَدْعُونَ إلاَّ إيَّاهُ) “And when harm touches you at sea, those you call upon besides Him have vanished; only to Him you call.” (Al-Isra: 67)
Muslims who neglect the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil—when they face punishment—turn to Allah, calling upon Him. However, He does not answer them, as mentioned in the hadith of Hudhaifah: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, you must enjoin good and forbid evil, or else Allah will send upon you punishment from Him, and then you will call upon Him, but He will not answer you.”
Dua: O Allah, grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your path, unite their hearts, strengthen their ranks, and guide them to follow Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet. O Allah, provide us with the means to liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque, and guide the Muslim rulers and their people to establish Your Sharia and support Your religion.
O Allah, deal with the aggressive Jews and those who support them from the Christians and hypocrites. O Allah, take revenge on them, cause division among them, shake their foundations, and send down upon them Your wrath that cannot be turned back from the criminal people.
Indeed, You are the One who answers prayers, and You are worthy and capable of answering them.
And may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.