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Is it permissible to suffice with inward disapproval and to enjoin good and forbid evil only to those from whom a response is hoped for, while abandoning dealings with shops that contain reprehensible things under the pretext that the responsibility lies with the ruler?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Scholars have differed regarding the ruling on enjoining good and forbidding evil, whether it is an individual obligation (fard ayn) or a communal obligation (fard kifayah), and whether it requires people's acceptance or not. Al-Nawawi held that it is a communal obligation, but it may become an individual obligation in specific cases, and it must be done even if the accountable person does not expect it to be effective. Al-Kharashi held that it is a communal obligation, subject to conditions such as the enjoinder's knowledge of the good and evil, his safety from his denunciation leading to a greater evil, and his expectation that his denunciation will eliminate the evil. As for Al-Saffarini, he mentioned two narrations from Imam Ahmad regarding the condition of hoping for the desired outcome. Ibn Rajab, on the other hand, mentioned a difference of opinion regarding the obligation of denouncing someone who will not accept it, and he upheld the view of obligation. It is a condition for the evil that it be manifest, and it is permissible to spy when there is certainty of an evil occurring that is feared to be missed. It is not permissible to limit oneself to denouncing with the heart unless one is unable to denounce with the hand and tongue, or fears harm, or if a greater mischief would result.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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