Muslims: What is your way of preaching Islam? How do we enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong?

Question

What is your way of enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong with your brothers in Islam. How many of us follow the ways of the Holy Quran to repel other's evil deeds with your good deeds so as he to become a close friend of you later. Do you agree with the ways of arguing and fighting back in harsh ways with everyone who disagrees with their view of Islam when Allah says "Do not argue with the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) except in good taste" How can a Muslim then argue in bad manner with a brother Muslim?

Please tell me your thoughts regarding this and what are the very basic rules of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil which is a duty of every Muslim.

33) Who is better in speech than the one who calls people towards Allah, does good deeds and says: "I am a Muslim?"
34) Good deeds are not equal to the evil ones. Repel other's evil deeds with your good deeds. You will see that he, with whom you had enmity, will become your close friend.
35) But none will attain this quality except those who patiently endure and none will attain this quality except those who are truly fortunate. (Holy Quran:41:33,34,35)

Answer 1

Asalamu-Alaikum

I have an answer that's a bit different. It is obvious that we have to speak with kindness not hostality, because love and tolerance are not just tools that we should use to lure people in, but rather should be a part of us, since Islam is Peace and Love.. our morals and view of others should be in the same manner. The best way I would say of forbidding what is evil brother, is to do it justly, and preach not only to non-Muslims, but our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters as well. Allah loves those who are just. Now we know Allah is the only one that can bring justice to anyone, BUT we must do it by being honest and understanding. Many fellow Muslims take advantage of other Muslims, and say what they want, because they think no one will correct them. Just like our parents correct our wrongs because they love us, we should do the same for our Siblings in Islam. While preaching I believe, issues should be adressed to Both non-Muslims and Muslims as well.

The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred, whether a person is Muslim or not. Islam also protects honor. So, in Islam, insulting others or making fun of them is not allowed. The Prophet Muhammad said: {Truly your blood, your property, and your honor are inviolable.}

O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and have made you into nations and tribes for you to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you with God is the most pious.2 Truly, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Quran, 49:13)

The Prophet Muhammad said: {O people! Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e. white tinged with red) person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person, except in piety.}

Islam is a religion of justice. God has said:

Truly God commands you to give back trusts to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, to judge with justice.... (Quran, 4:58)

And He has said:

...And act justly. Truly, God loves those who are just. (Quran, 49:9)

We should even be just with those who we hate, as God has said:

...And let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety.... (Quran, 5:8)

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: {People, beware of injustice, for injustice shall be darkness on the Day of Judgment.}

So you see dear brother, whilst preaching, attention should be drawn in a positive manner, Issues that are adressed should be those that are relative to the time and place, words of ignorance should be battled with wisdom and love, and issues should be applied to Muslims as well... But most of all, we must keep the intention in mind, that we are solely doing this for the sake of Allah. We should be aware that we need to increase our Taqwa, we need to embrace our deen as a part of life.. and Allah will inshallah open many doors for us, to be successful in spreading words of Islam in this life, and open the doors to Jannah so that we can be successful in the next as well.

JazakAllah Khair Brother.

Asalamu-Alaikum

Answer 2

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim - In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Salaam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah

I agree with the posters who say we should preach in the best manner, with knowledge, kindness, and patience. I always try to present Islam in the same way it was presented to me when I was learning. If I had been rebuffed by harsh people who were arrogant and cruel, using insulting words and calling me names, I would have run from Islam thinking it a religion of mean and misguided people. But Allah blessed me by sending kind, gentle, patient people into my life. They presented the message of Islam and through them Allah guided me. This is how I approach others.

Fi Aman Allah,

Nancy Umm Abdel Hamid

Answer 3

I'm not sure that I'm capable to do so ...not worthy..you have to know everything in a way that is attractive and would be very desirable..I love my religion and I'm very PROUD to be a Muslim..I don't really encounter with non-Muslim people alot since i live in a Muslim country(ksa) but I do remind my follow Muslims to pray and do well..I try my best the way the best of man kind did (prophet Muhammad peace be upon him)


take care!

Answer 4

I can tell you my affection for Islam comes not from anyone who has ever disparaged Christianity, told me I was going to burn in hell, referred to me as Kafir, or otherwise vehemently proselytized to me with vacant and hateful words.

My affection for Islam came from someone who never said a word to me at all. I simply saw him take a heavy bag from a woman and help her load it in her car one afternoon.

There is no compulsion in religion, according to the Qu'ran. But there are those people who quietly live their faith, and exist beyond question. People who talk a lot invite questions, criticism and skepticism. But people who live their faith invite no such challenges.

Answer 5

Frankly, It's a difficult question for me coz I'm not a preacher and not knowledgeable about Islam.
I just live as normally member of a society, And try to be nice to everyone.
To enjoin good deeds, I try my best to do that. And Alhamdulillah, I stay in a religious society and also at work. All of us remind each other to do good deeds
but
When I find other's evil deeds, sometimes I can remind them, but I often can't do everything (I just pray for them) coz I don't wanna get trouble.
[I know it means I may have the weakest faith :( ]

~add~
read other's answers i felt like I gave you wrong answer.
I just can answer your question
"What is your way of preaching Islam?"

But to Answer
"How do we enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong?"
Lawrence's answer is great!

~add~
Ankaboot
Sara is a member with multiple accounts
And her way to curse people remind me to people that sent Lawrence mails

Answer 6

Whoever has not thrown off his anxieties, been purified of the evils of his self and its appetites, defeated Satan, and entered under the guardianship of God and the security of His protection, cannot properly enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil; and since he has not attained these aforementioned qualities, whatever affair he tackles in attempting to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil will be a proof against him, and people will not benefit from it.

أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ

God said, What! Do you enjoin men to be good and neglect your own souls? (2:44)

Anyone who does that is called upon thus: Oh- traitor! Do you demand from My creation that which you have rejected for yourself and have slackened the reins [in this regard] upon yourself?

It is related that Tha'labah al-Asadi asked the Messenger of God about this verse:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ لاَ يَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ

O you who believe! Take care of your souls; he who errs cannot hurt you when you are on the right way. (5:105)

The Messenger of God said, 'Enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and be forbearing in whatever afflicts you, until such time when you see meanness obeyed and passions followed, and when everyone will have conceit about their own opinion, then you should concern yourself only with yourself, and ignore the affairs of the common people.'

A person who enjoins what is good needs to be knowledgeable about what is permissible and what is forbidden; he must be free from his personal inclinations regarding what he enjoins and forbids, give good counsel to people, be merciful and compassionate to them, and call them with gentleness in a very clear manner, while recognizing their different characters so that he can put each in his proper place.

He must see the intrigues of the self and the machinations of Satan. He must be patient in whatever befalls him, and must not seek compensation from people for that which he instructs them in, nor complain about them. He should not make use of vehemence or passion. He should not become angry for his own sake. He should make his intention purely for God, and seek His help and desire Him. But if people oppose him and are harsh to him, he must be patient; and if they agree with him and accept his verdict, he must be thankful, entrusting his affair to God and looking to his own faults

Answer 7

"Ye are the best community that hath been raised up for mankind. Ye enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency; and ye believe in Allah" 3:110

Sharia, Enjoining right, forbidding indecency; are matters that didn't come for a cabinet or a board to apply. Every one of us need to apply Sharia, Enjoining right, forbidding indecency on himself.. inside himself.. That's how we can be "best community that hath been raised up for mankind".

It was really strange, that I recieved a very indecent mail from a so called Muslim here; who claimed that "Dealing and debating in good manner is only for Christians and jews and not for hypocrite Muslims like me".. Well.. If that man paused for a moment.. reviewed himself.. his deeds this very day, applied the rule of "Enjoining right, forbidding indecency" it would have been better for him.

A Muslim man\ woman, who applies Sharia inside himself first, His family and sons will do so, and raise other sons to do so.. the whole world shall be clean...

Edit:

If we did that, we'll give a great example to follow.. deeds are better than words...

Answer 8

Assalamu Alaikum! In the name of Allah (SWT), Most Gracious, Most Merciful!

I keep calm, use kind words, and educate without force: Any other approach would be much disliked by God (SWT).

Answer 9

The best way to preach Islam is to follow Islam correctly ourselves firstly, then explain to others.

Salam Alaikum Wr Wb.

Answer 10

Tafseer of the Salaf


The first thing to know is that the Prophet, peace be upon him, has explained the meaning of the Qur'aan to his companions, just as he taught its words. The Divine command: "You should explain to people what has been sent down to them," [16:44] calls for the former just as it calls for the latter. Abu `Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sulamee has said that whenever the people who taught them the Qur'aan like `Uthmaan ibn Affaan (radiyallaahu `anhu), `Abdullaah ibn Mas`ood (radiyallaahu `anhumaa) and others learned then verses of the Qur'aan from the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) and did not proceed further unless they had understood whatever ideas and regulations those verses contained. They used to say: "We learned the text of the Qur'aan and studied its ideas and injunctions all together." This explains why they spent such a long time in learning a chapter (soorah). Anas (radiyallaahu `anhu) has said: "We used to hold in great esteem the one who learned the two soorahs of the Qur'aan: al-Baqarah and Aali-Imraan". Ibn `Umar (radiyallaahu `anhu) spent many years, and according to Maalik, a complete eight years, in learning these soorahs. In fact, the companions were submitting to the command of Allaah:
"This is a blessed Book; We have revealed it to you so that you contemplate over it," [38:29] and
"Don't they contemplate over the Qur'aan!", [47:24] and,
"Have they not pondered over (Allaah's) words!". [23:68]
Obviously, you cannot contemplate words unless you understand their meaning. That is why Allaah has said:
"We have revealed it as an Arabic Qur'aan so that you comprehend it", [12:22]