Chapter 13 - On Enjoining the Right and Forbidding the Wrong

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Whoever has the following characteristics will enjoin the right and forbid the wrong: is knowledgeable about the right and abandons the wrong; is moderate and just concerning what he enjoins as right, and what he forbids as wrong; and behaves according to what he enjoins and/or forbids.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Woe to the people who do not pay back their debts to God by enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Whenever a zealous Muslim observes that a forbidden act takes place, it suffices for him to know that God is aware of his disapproval and displeasure.”

Ghiyas ibn Ibrahim said: “Whenever Imam Sadiq (a.s) reached a group of people who were quarrelling, he would loudly say: “fear God” three times and pass by them.”

Mufaz'zil ibn Zayd said that Imam Sadiq (a.s) told him: “O' Mufaz'zil! If one objects to an oppressive ruler and gets hurt by that ruler, he will not get any reward and will not be granted patience.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong will only affect a believer or an ignorant person who learns from these acts, but it will not affect a person who is armed to the teeth.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God the Almighty has left a believer's affairs up to himself, but has not abandoned him to be humiliated. Have you not heard God's words: “But honor belongs to God and His Apostle, and to the Believers.” [The Holy Quran: Munafiqun 63:8]; Therefore believers are honored, not abased.” He then added: “Believers are even nobler than the mountains since we can knock down the mountains and destroy them, but nothing can diminish a believer's faith.”

“It is not good for a believer to do something to get humiliated. He was asked: “What will humiliate him?” Imam Sadiq (a.s) replied: “When he does something for which he has to apologize later.”

“It is incumbent upon those who are in power whom the people obey and can distinguish between the right and the wrong. It is not incumbent upon the weak people who do not know how to approach this issue, and might say wrong things about what is right. That is why God says: “Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining the right, and forbidding what is wrong. [The Holy Quran: Al-i-Imran 3:104]. But this is especial, and not general. As God the Almighty said: “Of the people of Moses there is a chapter who guide and do justice in the light of truth.” [The Holy Quran: Araf 7:159]. He has not said it is for all the people of Moses or all his tribe to enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, even though there were many groups there. And by people it is meant more than one, as God the Almighty said: “Abraham was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to God.” [The Holy Quran: Nahl 16:120]. In this verse it is said that he was obedient to God. Therefore it is not incumbent upon anyone who does not have any power, helpers or followers at peace time.”

Masaedat ibn Sadaqih said that Imam Sadiq (a.s) was questioned about the Prophet's statement: “The best form of Jihad -holy war- is expressing what is just in the presence of an oppressive ruler.” Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “This act will only be accepted of him if his enjoining the right is based on knowledge, otherwise it is not accepted.”