“He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.”
(Muslim, Iman, 78)
During a voyage, passengers were assigned quarters on either the upper or lower decks by a random selection process. Those residing on the lower deck faced the necessity of accessing the upper deck to fulfill their water requirements. However, in an attempt to minimize disruption to the occupants of the upper deck, a decision was made to cut a hole in the hull of the vessel...
The Prophet Muhammad (saw), who explained that one should not be passive in preventing evil through this simile, continued his words, elaborating on the consequences of inaction: “So, if the people in the upper part left the others do what they had suggested, all the people of the ship would be destroyed, but if they prevented them, both parties would be safe.” (Bukhari, Sharika, 6)
Al-amru bi-l-ma‘rufi wa-n-nahyu ‘ani-l-munkari
Aboard the vessel of existence, we, humankind, embark on a collective voyage towards the ultimate harbor, the Hereafter. Unlike a conventional ship, this vessel offers no opportunity to disembark or switch to another. Therefore, it is both our religious and human duty to protect this ship and to say “Stop!” to those who seek to breach its hull and jeopardize the well-being of all passengers.
One of the most fundamental principles of Islam, “al-amru bi-lma‘rufi wa-n-nahyu ‘anil-munkari”, is a principle that shows that one cannot stay indifferent to evil. According to this principle, every Muslim should enjoin what is ma‘ruf (that which is considered good by common sense and sound religion) and forbid what is munkar (that which is religiously avoided and that which is repugnant to virtuous nature). This is a fardh al-kifayah that is incumbent upon every Muslim and cannot be ignored (Al-i ‘Imran, 3:110, Tawbah, 9:71). However, the fulfillment of this sacred duty in an irregular, unsystematic, uninformed, or unauthorized manner can potentially lead to more detriment than benefit for both Islam and Muslims. In the light of this, it is important to examine the nature of intervention against evil as expressed in the hadith and to explore the appropriate methods for its implementation.
Confronting evil with the hand
It has been stated that the complete eradication of evil often necessitates intervention by the state, which possesses the legitimate authority to utilize force. However, individuals and institutions also have a role to play. For instance, family members can intervene directly to prevent wrongdoing within the household. Similarly, factory owners can address misconduct within their establishments by imposing appropriate penalties. In essence, anyone who can confidently act without incurring significant material or moral harm is encouraged to intervene against encountered evil, provided such actions remain within legal boundaries. However, if intervention is unlikely to be successful or may cause significant harm, direct action is generally discouraged. Indeed, the Prophet (saw) said that there would be no responsibility in this matter: “Allah will question His slave on the Day of Resurrection until He says: ‘What kept you from denouncing evil when you saw it?’ When Allah grants His slave the right to a response, he will say: ‘O Lord, I hoped for Your mercy but I feared the harm of people’ (and he will be excused).” (Ibn Majah, Fitan, 20)
Confronting evil through the tongue
Confronting evil through the tongue entails expressing the wrongness of sin or evil in a respectful and well-informed manner. This task should be performed primarily by scholars through their preaching, advice, and writings. Furthermore, in accordance with the verse “O believers! Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones…” (Tahrim, 66:6), family members also share a responsibility to prevent evil within their households by offering necessary and well-intentioned advice and warnings. Likewise, all Muslims can fulfill this duty, provided there is a suitable time, place, and method for confrontation. However, the verse “Invite (all) to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and kind advice, and only debate with them in the best manner...” (Nahl, 16:125) should be the main point of reference when performing this duty. Here, “wisdom” underscores the importance of knowledge and information, while “kind advice” emphasizes the need for a respectful and well-constructed approach. Furthermore, those who witness evil should not forget that they can perform the duty of confronting evil through the tongue by referring the matter to the competent authorities.
Confronting evil through the heart
It is inconceivable for Muslims to encounter evil and remain entirely indifferent, walking away as if nothing happened. Even when lacking the means, such as knowledge or authority, to directly confront evil through action or speech, they are called upon to take a stand. As a minimum, Muslims must disapprove of evil in their hearts, harboring disgust and abhorrence for it.
The weakest form of faith
The expression “ad‘af al-iman” in the hadith is usually translated as “the weakest form of faith”. When the hadith is translated in this way, the following meaning emerges: “A society that confines its confrontation to evil to the silent realm of the heart, neglecting the outward instruments of action and speech, inevitably witnesses a proliferation of wrongdoing and a concurrent erosion of faith among its believers.” In fact, although such a translation is not wrong, it is also stated that in Arabic, the expression in question is an idiom meaning “at least”, “as a minimum”, and “in the very least”. Accordingly, the hadith means, “If one is unable to confront evil through hand and tongue, let him hate it as a minimum in his heart and put a distance between himself and evil.”
In conclusion, the responsibility falls upon the believers to oppose evil actively, striving to prevent its occurrence whenever possible. When direct confrontation proves impracticable, a resolute stance of disapproval, even if confined to the heart, represents a necessary step in confronting evil.
