Since someone who lives by the moral values of the Qur’an knows the harm that will befall someone who does not, he will feel a responsibility to warn that person and call them to the true path; these warnings and reminders are a moral feature that all believers must exhibit. This important characteristic of Muslims is revealed in the Qur’an in the words “... they enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil.”
Forbidding evil and enjoining what is good is revealed in the Qur’an and is a religious obligation for all Muslims, like regular prayer, fasting and giving alms. Fulfilling this responsibility, which is commanded in numerous verses of the Qur’an, is therefore one of the main characteristics of believers. This is revealed thus in the Qur’an: “The believers, men and women, are allies of one another. They enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil. They observe regular prayers, give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. ...” (Surat At-Tawba, 71)
Believers strive to spread moral virtues
“Enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong” is not only a duty that believers have toward one another: They must also summon people who are ignorant of, or are remote from Islamic moral values to abide by them.
Preaching Qur’anic moral values and calling people to Allah’s path is one of the main duties of all the prophets and believers. However, as revealed in the Qur’an, nobody can be compelled to live by religious moral values. Having faith happens through Allah’s will. Once one has been told the truth and shown the evidence, it is up to one’s conscience whether one believes and a believer who preaches in the most proper way possible has therefore discharged his responsibility. He has no responsibility if the other party refuses to accept it. This is revealed in the verses as follows: “Therefore give admonition, for you are one to admonish. You are not one to manage (men’s) affairs.” (Surat Al-Ghashiyya, 21-22)
Let us be clear that preaching Qur’anic moral values or giving advice does not mean coming between Allah and His servant. On the contrary, preaching is a duty commanded by Allah, and must be done so all people can learn about Islamic moral values. What everyone who says he is not happy with the oppression and injustice in the world must do is to remind people of the existence of Allah and the Day of Reckoning, and to call on them to live by Qur’anic moral values.
Spreading Islamic moral values requires unity
Societies that do not live by Qur’anic moral values are looking for a way out of their difficulties; they are waiting for a guide to bring world peace and justice. That guidance is a responsibility for people who live by Islamic moral values and must be discharged by all Muslims with that in mind. As a result of the preaching of Islamic moral values by Muslims of different races and communities and languages across the world, the number of Muslims is rising by the day; mankind has begun turning to the truth. In such a climate, every hardworking believer in the service of Islam is exceedingly valuable. Appreciating the services of Muslims who strive to spread Islamic values as demanded by those values and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the further enlargement of that service, requires all of us to work together. That is because Allah commands believers to be united and as one. Our Lord describes in the Qur’an the dark environment that will emerge if believers fail to produce this union and solidarity:
“The unbelievers are allies of one another: Unless you do this, (protect each other), there would be tumult and oppression on Earth, and great mischief.” (Surat an-Anfal, 73)
Telling people who are removed from Qur’anic values about Islam is an important religious observance. Preaching religious values and calling people to Allah’s path was one of the main features of all the prophets and their followers. The Qur’an shows that the prophets spent their lives fulfilling this honorable duty and never wearied of calling people to the true path. The Prophet Noah’s (AS) words are related in the verses as follows:
“He said: ‘O my Lord! I have called to my people night and day: But my call only increases (their) flight (from the Right). And every time I have called to them, that You might forgive them, they have (only) thrust their fingers into their ears, covered themselves up with their garments, grown obstinate, and given themselves up to arrogance. So I have called to them aloud; further I have spoken to them in public and secretly in private.’” (Surah Nuh, 5-9)
Every Muslim must exhibit patience and determination in his preaching by living by the superior virtues of the prophets. Allah tells us that in reward for such determined and sincere endeavors, He will bring about the global reign of Islamic moral values:
“Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and do righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion — the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: They will worship Me (alone) and not associate anything with Me. If any reject faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked.” (Surat an-Nur, 55)
Adnan Oktar's piece on Arab News:
