Islam Rediscovered
9. The Islamic Way of Life
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own heart. He should rise in support of the rights of
the oppressed. When one sees someone engaged in
the calumny and slander of others, he should
attempt to stop him from doing so. He should make
the iniquity known to other people, so that the
culprit may be compelled by means of public
pressure to desist from indulging in such evil acts.
Every member of society should consider the
upholding of virtue to be an essential duty. The
greatest concern of every individual should be to
see that goodness flourishes in society and that evils
are uprooted from it. Before any evil takes roots, it
should be nipped in the bud.
This task of enjoining good and forbidding evil has
to be performed with the utmost gentleness and
well wishing rather than with harshness and
violence.
That is why this social responsibility has been
linked with acts of worship in Islam. For instance,
with reference to prayer, the Qur’an says: “Surely,
prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil.”
(29:45)
