Part 28

Allah has ordered us in His Book to obey Him, to obey His Prophet, and to obey those in authority among the believers saying: [O, you who believe, obey Allah and obey His Prophet, and those in authority among you. And if you disagree in any issue, take it back to Allah and to the Prophet, if you truly believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is best, and will have the best final result (in application)] Quran 4/59 "Those in authority" are: the possessors of authority, and its people. They are the ones who enjoin the people and forbid them. This is shared by both those having political and temporal power, and the people of knowledge and intellectual influence. Thus, "those in authority" consist of two categories: the scholars and the rulers. When they are righteous, the people are righteous, and when they are corrupt, the people are corrupt. Just as Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) said to Al-Ahmasiya when she asked: "How long will we (be able) to remain in this good state?" Abu Bakr said: "As long as your rulers are upright." Of this group are the kings and the "Shaikhs", and the men of religion, along with anyone who is followed by someone, who is also in a position of "authority" among you. It is upon each and every one of these to enjoin what Allah has enjoined, and forbid what Allah has forbidden. Furthermore, it is upon everyone who is required in Islam to obey his amir, or others, to obey them in (all that is) obedience to Allah, and not to obey them in disobedience to Allah, Abu Bakr said when he first assumed the Caliphate: "O, people, the strong among you is the weak as far as I am concerned until I take peoples right dues from him (and give them to their rightful owners). Obey me, as long as I obey Allah, and if I disobey Allah, I have no right to your obediance." Enjoining Right & Forbidding Wrong - 58 Translated by Salim Abdallah ibn Morgan Pure Intention To Please Allah Is Required In All Righteous Deeds All righteous deeds must contain the following two elements: that they be done solely for the sake of Allah, and that they be in accordance with the shari'a. This is for both statements and acts. It is one of the requirements of goodly speech and righteous action, in matters of knowledge and understanding, as well as matters of application, and of worship and devotion. It has thus been well authenticated in the sahih that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: "Verily, the first three (categories) for which hell is fired up are: A man who learned knowledge and taught it, and read the Quran and taught others to read it in order that the people might say: He is knowledgeable, and he is a good reciter. And a man who fought and struggled so that the people would say: He is courageous, and he is a good fighter. And a man who spent of that which he was given and gave charity so that the people would say: He is generous, and he is openhanded." These three people desire eye service and reputation and credit. They are in opposition to the three which have been mentioned in the Quran after the prophets: the ever truthful and believing (As-siddiqeen), the martyrs in the cause of Allah (Ash-shuhadaa'), and the righteous doers of good (As-saaliheen). One who learns the knowledge with which Allah sent His prophets and teaches it purely for the sake of Allah, is one of As-siddiqeen. And, whoever fights so that the word of Allah may be uppermost until he is killed is one of Ash-shuhadaa', while one who gives his property in charity desiring only the Face of Allah, is one of As-Saaliheen. This is why the one who neglected the obligations upon in his property, will ask to be sent back at the time of death. Ibn Abbas said: "Whoever was given property, but did not make Hajj, nor pay the zakah due on that property, will ask to be sent back at death. Then he read the verse of the Quran which reads: [And spend of that which we have given you before death comes to one of you, and so he says: My Lord, if only you would give me respite for a short time so that I could give in charity, and be one of the doers of good.] Quran 63/10" Enjoining Right & Forbidding Wrong - 59 Translated by Salim Abdallah ibn Morgan So, in these matters of knowledge and rhetoric, the enjoiner of good needs to make sure that all the information he passes on about Allah and the Last Day, and about things which were and are is completely correct. Also, he must be sure that everything which he enjoins on others and forbids them is just as it was delivered by the prophets from Allah.