Inspired by “Islamic Rulings: A Guide to Islamic Practices” by His Eminence, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah (ra)
What is meant by "enjoining good and forbidding evil" is the act of opposing a person who turns their back to good deeds by counseling them to take up good deeds and abandoning wrongdoing that they do as a matter of course, using any of the methods laid down by the Sharia. This, however, does not apply to the person who is not in a position to distinguish between what is obligatory and what is impermissible.
What we mean by "good" is every good deed enjoined by the Sharia, either by making it obligatory to uphold or by encouraging it voluntarily.
What we mean by "evil" is every evil deed the Sharia forbids, either by making it impermissible to embark on or by encouraging one to keep their distance from. If "evil" is of the impermissible type, forbidding it becomes wajib (obligatory); and if it is makrouh (abominable), forbidding it becomes mustahab (recommended).
There are several requirements that enable one to enjoin good and forbid evil. In addition to the general requirements of coming of age and reaching a level of maturity, the following conditions must also be met to enjoin good and forbid evil:
First: Knowledge of the right and wrong. One must learn the rulings regarding areas to which a person may be subject to their conduct and relations, so that they can carry out the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil.
Second: The enjoiner and forbidder must be safe from harm to themselves and their honor; this condition also includes ensuring no harm to other Muslims, their possessions, or their honor.
It is also conditional that the act of enjoining or forbidding does not require getting into intense difficulty that the person cannot withstand, such as being forced to leave their home or to leave a profitable job for a very demanding job. This also applies to enjoining good and forbidding evil that leads others into intense difficulty.
Inspired by “Islamic Rulings: A Guide to Islamic Practices” by His Eminence, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah (ra)
What is meant by "enjoining good and forbidding evil" is the act of opposing a person who turns their back to good deeds by counseling them to take up good deeds and abandoning wrongdoing that they do as a matter of course, using any of the methods laid down by the Sharia. This, however, does not apply to the person who is not in a position to distinguish between what is obligatory and what is impermissible.
What we mean by "good" is every good deed enjoined by the Sharia, either by making it obligatory to uphold or by encouraging it voluntarily.
What we mean by "evil" is every evil deed the Sharia forbids, either by making it impermissible to embark on or by encouraging one to keep their distance from. If "evil" is of the impermissible type, forbidding it becomes wajib (obligatory); and if it is makrouh (abominable), forbidding it becomes mustahab (recommended).
There are several requirements that enable one to enjoin good and forbid evil. In addition to the general requirements of coming of age and reaching a level of maturity, the following conditions must also be met to enjoin good and forbid evil:
First: Knowledge of the right and wrong. One must learn the rulings regarding areas to which a person may be subject to their conduct and relations, so that they can carry out the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil.
Second: The enjoiner and forbidder must be safe from harm to themselves and their honor; this condition also includes ensuring no harm to other Muslims, their possessions, or their honor.
It is also conditional that the act of enjoining or forbidding does not require getting into intense difficulty that the person cannot withstand, such as being forced to leave their home or to leave a profitable job for a very demanding job. This also applies to enjoining good and forbidding evil that leads others into intense difficulty.