Collection of Ahadeeth 23

Assalamu Alaikkum,

Prevent yourselves from setting with Sinners:

1.    Abdullah Ibne-Mas'ud Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: The decline of Ban! Isra'il started when a (pious) man among them met any other man (involved in sin), the former said to latter: O you! Fear Allah, and refrain from what you are committing, since it is not allowed for you. Then when he met him the next day this would not stop him (pious man) from eating, drinking and sitting with the sinner. When this happened frequently, (and also enjoining good and forbidding from evil was given up), Allah made the hearts of the obedient similar to the hearts of the disobedient. Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam then recited the verse:

Those among the children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dawud and 'Isa son of Maryam. That was because they disobeyed (Allah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bounds. They used not to forbid one another from Al-Munkar (wrong, evil-doing, sins, polytheism, disbelief) which they committed. Bad indeed was what they used to do. You see many of them taking the disbelievers as their Auliya' (protectors and helpers). Evil indeed is that which their own selves have sent forward before them; for that (reason) Allah's Wrath fell upon them, and in torment they will abide. And had they believed in Allah and in the prophet (Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam ) and in what has been revealed to him, never would they taken them (the disbelievers) as Auliya' (protectors and helpers); but many of them are the FUsiqun (rebellious, disobedient) to Allah. (Al-Maida 5:78-81)

Thereafter, he commanded: Certainly I swear by Allah, you must indeed enjoin unto good and you must indeed forbid from evil, and you must indeed catch hold of the hand of the oppressor and you must indeed persuade him to act justly, and you must indeed withhold him to the truth. (Abu Dawud 4336)

Stop the Oppressor:

2.    Abu Bakr Radiyallahu 'anhu said: O people! Verily you recite this verse:

O you who believe! You guard your own souls. He who has gone astray cannot harm you, if you are rightly guided.

And I heard Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam saying: Indeed when people see an oppressor but do not stop him, then it is likely that Allah will overtake them with an all encompassing Punishment. (Tirmidhi 2168)

Note: Abu Bakr Radiyallahu 'anhu meant that if anyone assumes from the above verse that "when a man is on the right path, then it is not necessary for him to enjoin unto good and forbid from evil; because he will not be questioned about others", then this is a wrong interpretation of this verse. .As far as possible, one should forbid evil and this is the responsibility of every individual of the Ummah. The right meaning of the verse is: "O you who believe! Care for your own reformation; you follow your Deen in such a way that you are reforming yourself and also endeavoring to reform others. If someone, despite your efforts to reform him, goes astray, then there is no harm for you". (Bayan-ul-Qur'an)

Hearts Get Blackened:

3.    Hudhaifah Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates: I heard Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam saying: Hearts will be exposed to temptations as a mat is woven stick-by-stick. Any heart that accepts these temptations gets a black spot; and any heart that rejects these, gets a white spot. As a result, hearts will become of two kinds; one white like marble. So no temptation could harm it as long as the heavens and the earth stand. And the other heart is black and dusty like an overturned bowl (the heart gets blackened by excessive sins and, as an overturned bowl cannot retain anything in it, similarly there will be no hatred for sins, and the light of lman will not remain in this heart). Neither will it recognize good as good nor evil as evil, but will pursue its desires. (Muslim 369)

Enjoin one another to do good and forbid from evil:

4.    Abu Umayyah Sha'bani Rahimahullahu says that he asked Abu Tha'labah Al Khushani Radiyallahu 'anhu: O Abu Tha'labah! What do you say about this verse (guard yourselves)? He replied: I swear by Allah! You have indeed asked a man who knows about it very well. I asked Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam about this verse. So he said: But enjoin one another to do good and forbid from evil, until you see miserliness being obeyed; passions being followed; worldly matters being preferred; every person assuming his own opinion to be the only right one; then care for yourself, and leave what people in general are doing. For, surely, thereafter shall come days which will require endurance when holding to Deen will be like grasping a burning coal. The one amongst them, who acts rightly (during that period), will get the reward equal to that of fifty persons. Abu Tha'labah asked: O Rasulallah! The reward of fifty of them! He replied: The reward of fifty of you. (Abu Dawud 4341)

Note: This certainly does not mean that those in the later part of the Ummah can excel the Sahabah, because the Sahabah are undoubtedly superior to the whole Ummah. From this hadith, it is evident that enjoining good and forbidding from evil is essential. However, if such a time comes when the ability to accept the truth is totally lost, then it is ordained to remain in seclusion. However, by the grace of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala that time has not come as yet, and the Ummah has ample ability to accept the truth.

Avoid sitting on the ways:

5.    Abu Sa'Id Al Khudri Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: Avoid sitting on the ways. The Sahabah said: O Rasulallah! It is difficult for us to avoid this, as we sit there and discuss matters. He said: If you have no other alternative but to sit, then fulfill the rights of the way. Sahabah asked: What are the rights of the way, O Rasulallah! He replied: Lowering the eyes, removing harmful things, replying to Salam, and enjoining good and forbidding from evil. (Bukhari 6229)

Note: Sahabah Radiyallahu 'anhum meant that it was very difficult for them to avoid sitting on the ways, as they did not have any other place where they could sit together. Therefore, when some of them used to get together, they would sit on the ways to consult each other about their worldly and religious matters and enquired about one another's welfare. If someone was ill, they would advise treatment; should there be some unpleasantness between them, they would make a reconciliation. (Mazahir-e-Haq)

He is not one of Us:

6.    Ibne-' Abbas Radiyallahu 'anhuma narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: He is not one of us who does not show kindness to our youngsters, does not show respect to our elders, and does not enjoin unto good and does not forbid from evil. (Tirmidhi 1921)

Atonement for Wrongdoing:

7.    Hudhaifah Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: A man's wrongdoing regarding his family, his property, his children, and his neighbours may be atoned by offering Salat, Sadaqah and enjoining good and forbidding from evil. (Bukhari 7096)