Commanding good and forbidding evil is not an optional act of Islamic virtue — it is a collective obligation that the Qur'an repeats throughout its pages and that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) reinforced with binding directives to the Muslim community. Yet despite its importance, many Muslims have a confused or incomplete understanding of what this obligation actually requires, when it applies, and how it is to be carried out correctly. Ma'roof and Munkar: Enjoining What is Right and Forbidding What is Wrong by Jalaluddin Umari fills that gap — drawing together the statements of classical and later scholars to explain this obligation in detail and in practice. What This Book Covers The Qur'anic and Prophetic Foundation The obligation to enjoin good and forbid evil appears throughout the Qur'an as one of the defining characteristics of the Muslim community: "You are the best nation produced for mankind — you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong." (Surah Ali 'Imran 3:110) The book establishes the full textual basis for this obligation from the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah before moving to its practical application. The Conditions and Levels of the Obligation Not every situation calls for the same response, and not everyone has the same capacity or authority to act. The book explains the well-known hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith." (Sahih Muslim 49) The conditions that determine which level applies, who is responsible for acting, and what limits exist are all addressed with scholarly precision. Practical Guidance for the Individual Muslim The obligation applies in the home, in the community, and in society — and the forms it takes differ accordingly. The author draws on classical scholarship to show how an ordinary Muslim fulfills this obligation in their everyday context, without exceeding their authority or causing greater harm than the evil they are trying to address. About the Author Syed Jalaluddin Umri (1935–2022) was an Indian Islamic scholar and writer whose books address the practical and ethical dimensions of Islamic life. Published by International Islamic Publishing House (IIPH). Who This Book Is For Every Muslim who wants to understand an obligation the Qur'an returns to repeatedly — and how to fulfill it correctly in their own life and community. Continue Reading Shaykh Abdul Aziz ar-Rajihi treats the same obligation alongside da'wah in The Clear and Most Manifest Word. On how correction should actually be delivered, see Ibn Rajab's The Difference Between Advising and Shaming and al-Munajjid's The Prophet's Methods of Correcting People's Mistakes.
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