Part 11

Abu Ya'la mentioned it in his book entitled Al-Mu'tamad as follows: "None should enjoin right and forbid wrong except one who is knowledgeable in that which he enjoins, knowledgeable in that which he forbids, compassionate in that which he enjoins, compassionate in that which he forbids, forbearing in that which he enjoins, and forbearing in that which he forbids." Enjoining Right & Forbidding Wrong - 22 Translated by Salim Abdallah ibn Morgan The Difficulty Of These Requirements Make no mistake about it, these requirements of enjoining right and forbidding wrong introduce a high degree of difficulty into the situation for many people. Thus some imagine that the obligation has fallen from his shoulders because of some lack in its prerequisites, and so he neglects it. This may harm him more than he would have been harmed by ordering and forbidding in spite of his lacks or deficiencies in one or more of these requirements, or it may harm him less. Failing to carry out the obligation of enjoining right is disobedience to Allah, and committing what Allah has forbidden therein is also disobedience. One who flees from one act of disobedience to another is like one who seeks refuge from the frying pan by jumping into the fire, or like one who flees from one false religion to another, where the second one may be more evil than the first, or it may be less evil, and they may be equally evil. This is the same in the case of the one who neglects his obligations in enjoining right and forbidding wrong and the one who practices enjoining right, but transgresses and disobeys Allah therein. The sin of the first one may be greater than the second, or of the second one may be greater than the first, or they may be equally great. Disobedience To Allah Causes Difficulty, Obedience Causes Ease One thing which is clearly established from the signs which Allah has shown us between the horizons and in our selves, and with which He has born witness in His book -- is that disobedience is a cause of calamities and difficulties. The evil of calamities and punishments comes from the evil of ones actions. Also, obedience is a cause of plenty and ease. The doing of good of the slave is a reason for the doing of good by Allah to him. Allah said: [And whatever calamity befalls you, it is according to that which your own hands have earned - and Allah forgives much.] Quran 42/30 [Whatever good comes to you is from Allah, and whatever evil comes to you is from your self.] Quran 4/79 [Verily, those of you who turned their backs on the day when the two armies met, the Shaitan caused them to slip up because of some of what they had earned. Allah has forgiven them.] Quran 3/155 Enjoining Right & Forbidding Wrong - 23 Translated by Salim Abdallah ibn Morgan [So, is it that when some calamity strikes you (in war), though you have previously inflicted a calamity twice its magnitude, you ask: Why is this? Say: It is from your own selves.] Quran 3/165 [Or He may cause them to stop moving altogether (i.e. ships at sea) because of that which they have earned, and He forgives much.] Quran 42/34 [And if they are afflicted with some calamity because of that which their own hands have sent forth, verily man is ever ungrateful, faithless] Quran 42/48 [Allah is not about to punish them while you are amongst them, and He is not about to punish them while they (i.e. some among them) seek His forgiveness.] Quran 8/33 Allah's Punishment Of The Previous Nations For Their Disobedience Allah has informed us of his punishment of the previous nations for their wickedness such as the people of Nuh, and 'aad, Thamud, the people of Lut, the people of the city of Madyan, and the people of Fir'aun (Pharoah) in this world, and He has informed us of the punishments which await them in the next world. Thus, the believer who had been hiding his belief from the people of Fir'aun said, as Allah tells us in the Quran: [O, my people, verily I fear for you something like the days of the nations who came before, something like the punishment which befell the people of Nuh, 'aad, Thamud, and those who came after them. Allah does not intend any oppression of His slaves. And O, my people, verily I fear for you the day of calling to one another, on that day you will turn your backs and run in fear, and there will be none who can protect you from Allah. Whosoever Allah sends astray has no one whatsoever who can guide him.] Quran 40/30-33 And Allah said in another aya about the punishment in this world: [Such is the punishment, and the punishment in the next world is greater, if only they knew.] Quran 68/33 [We will punish them twice, and then they will be returned to a mighty torment.] Quran 9/101 Enjoining Right & Forbidding Wrong - 24 Translated by Salim Abdallah ibn Morgan [We will give them a taste of the minor punishment before the greater punishment, that they might turn back (i.e.