. Li (cont.)

This is because they have more ability or power to remove it. They may be in a general position of power or they may be in a specific position of responsibility. In either case, their ability to remove evil is more than the ability of those who do not have that authority. 1 Al-Sabt, al-Amr, p. 1 34. Also see al-Mudaabaghi, p. 244. 2 Cf., ibn Rajab, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 255. Also see al-Mudaabaghi, p. 244. 3 Al-Qaari, vol. 8, p. 327. 4 Cf., al-Haitami, Fath, p. 244. Hadith #34: "Whoever of You Sees an Evil . . . " Therefore, this address is first and foremost directed to the rulers and scholars. 1 They are the people of most authority. The rulers can enact laws and enforce punishments to keep people from committing evil. They have the authority to physically stop many evils and prevent them from occurring. It is obligatory upon them to remove evil "by their hands" or force because, in general, they have the means to do so. If the rulers do not fulfill this responsibility, they have betrayed their trust toward Allah and the Muslim masses. Even worse is the case where it is the rulers themselves who are encouraging or forcing the evil among the populous. The scholars also have great authority, in that their voice is listened to and they have the knowledge of the shareeah to know what is right and what is wrong. Many times, they even have authority over the rulers. Often, if they speak out against an evil or act to remove an evil, no one, not even the ruler, can say anything to them because they have the respect and love of the people. Therefore, it is often obligatory upon the scholars to at least remove evil by their tongues because, many times, they have the means to do so. It is for this reason that when these two groups, the rulers and scholars, go bad, the society as a whole goes bad, as many scholars in the past have stated.2 However, this address of the Prophet (peace be upon him) also extends to everyone who is in a position of authority, wherein he can remove an evil that exists. The director of a school, for example, often times has the power and influence to remove many evils from the school, such as mixing between the boys and girls and so forth. The boss of a company often has similar powers. The director or ameer of a mosque also has such powers. He will have, in most cases, the authority to remove disallowed pictures and unacceptable things from the premises of the mosque. When these people have the authority and power to do such acts, it becomes obligatory upon them to remove such evils when no one else is removing them or if others are not capable of removing them.3 Husbands, fathers and mothers are also in special positions of responsibility. Husbands are considered the head of the household. Therefore, it is upon their shoulders to make sure their families are headed in the right direction: toward Paradise and away from Hell. It is the responsibility of the husband to keep his wife from committing evil and to order her to do what is 1 Cf., al-Bugha and Mistu, p. 264. 2 Abdullah ibn al-Mubaarak, for example, wrote in lines of poetry, "I have seen that sins bring death to the heart and produce disgrace and its [sins'] addiction Abandoning sins is the life of the hearts and what is best for your self is to disobey it [the self] And has the religion not but been destroyed by rulers and monks and scholars who are evil." Quoted in ibn al-Qayyim, Al-Jawaab al-Kaafi, p. 67. 3 Cf., al-Baitaar, pp. 207-208. Commentary on the 40 Hadith of al-Nawawi right. If he sees her, for example, talking on the phone and backbiting others, he has the right to tell her to stop or to take the phone from her and hang it up. Fathers and mothers also have special responsibilities toward their children. Mothers usually spend more time with their children, so this obligation is especially important upon them. As explained above, munkar or evil includes the wrong that children commit, even if they are considered sinless. Therefore, if a child is playing music, watching something objectionable or destroying somebody's property, the parent must step in and stop the child. If the parent sees what is happening and simply decides not to do anything, the parent is sinful because he or she saw an evil and did not do anything about it although he or she had the ability to stop it. This is part of the obligation that is referred to in this hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him): if one has the means to stop an evil, one must stop it.