Abdul Muqit Chowdhury :
The Holy Quran ordains the responsibility of the Muslim Ummah to lead mankind in the ‘right path’ : “Ye are the best/ Of Peoples, evolved/ For mankind,/Enjoining what is right,/ Forbidding what is wrong,/ And believing in
God. If only the people of the Book/Had faith ; it were best/For them : among them/Are some who have faith,/But most of them/Are perverted transgressors.” (Sura Al-Imran 3:110)
Allama Yusuf Ali comments : “The logical conclusion to the evolution of religious history is a non-sectarian, non-racial, non-doctrinal, universal religion, which Islam claims to be. For Islam is just submission to the Will of God. This implies (1) Faith, (2) doing right, being an example to others to do right, and having the power to see that the right prevails, (3) eschewing wrong, being an example to others to eschew wrong, and having the power to see that wrong and injustice are defeated.
Islam therefore lives, not for itself, but for mankind. The people of the Book, if only they had faith, would be Muslims, for they have been prepared for Islam. Unfortunately there is unfaith, but it can never harm those who carry the banner of Faith and Right, which must always be victorious.”
The revelation of the Holy Quran with this mission has a special significance in this context :
“Ramzan is the month/ In which was sent down/ The Holy Qur-an, as a guide/ To mankind, also clear (Signs)/ For guidance and judgment/ (Between right and wrong) ….” (Sura Baqara 2:185)
The first quoted verse proclaims Muslims as ‘best people’ to enjoin ‘right’ and forbid ‘wrong’ : The second one proclaims the Holy Quran as ‘guide’ to mankind’ for ‘guidance and judgment’ (between right and wrong). The relation between the two verses is on the people (Muslims), the message Holy (Quran) and the responsibility (guidance and judgment between right and wrong).
Side by side with the universal responsibility of leading mankind on the proper path, the Holy Quran ordains a special mission for a section of dedicated people to fight for the cause:
“Let there arise out of you/ A band of people/ Inviting to all that is good,/ Enjoining what is right,/ And forbidding what is wrong : /They are the ones/ To attain felicity,” (Sura Al-Imran 3:104)
Here, ‘a band of people’ is called to come out to ‘invite to’ ‘good’ and enjoin ‘right’ and forbid ‘wrong.’
Allama Yusuf Ali comments in this context : “…The ideal Muslim community is happy, untroubled by conflicts or doubts, sure of itself, strong, united and prosperous: because it invites to all that is good; enjoins the right; and forbids the wrong, – a master-stroke of description in three clauses.”
The enjoining of the right and and forbidding the wrong is ‘Amr-e-bil ma’ruf’ and ‘nahi anil munkar’ in the religious term. This assigned duty for every Muslim and specially a section of Muslims, should be rendered in all possible ways.
Rasulullah (Sm) said, “If someone of’ you notice bad deeds, check it with hands. If unable to do so, check it with mouth. If you are unable to do it also, hate (condemn) it with your heart; and with that you will be free from responsibility. But it is a very weak Iman (faith).” (Muslim Sharif, Nasayee Sharif)
The present social environment is very much polluted. Corruption is rampant. Terror prevails. The voice of conscience and human values should be dominant in moulding the future of the nation. The Muslims have that ordained mission to eradicate evils and uplift the society through propagation and establishment of human values. They should shoulder that responsibility.
The Holy Quran ordains the responsibility of the Muslim Ummah to lead mankind in the ‘right path’ : “Ye are the best/ Of Peoples, evolved/ For mankind,/Enjoining what is right,/ Forbidding what is wrong,/ And believing in
God. If only the people of the Book/Had faith ; it were best/For them : among them/Are some who have faith,/But most of them/Are perverted transgressors.” (Sura Al-Imran 3:110)
Allama Yusuf Ali comments : “The logical conclusion to the evolution of religious history is a non-sectarian, non-racial, non-doctrinal, universal religion, which Islam claims to be. For Islam is just submission to the Will of God. This implies (1) Faith, (2) doing right, being an example to others to do right, and having the power to see that the right prevails, (3) eschewing wrong, being an example to others to eschew wrong, and having the power to see that wrong and injustice are defeated.
Islam therefore lives, not for itself, but for mankind. The people of the Book, if only they had faith, would be Muslims, for they have been prepared for Islam. Unfortunately there is unfaith, but it can never harm those who carry the banner of Faith and Right, which must always be victorious.”
The revelation of the Holy Quran with this mission has a special significance in this context :
“Ramzan is the month/ In which was sent down/ The Holy Qur-an, as a guide/ To mankind, also clear (Signs)/ For guidance and judgment/ (Between right and wrong) ….” (Sura Baqara 2:185)
The first quoted verse proclaims Muslims as ‘best people’ to enjoin ‘right’ and forbid ‘wrong’ : The second one proclaims the Holy Quran as ‘guide’ to mankind’ for ‘guidance and judgment’ (between right and wrong). The relation between the two verses is on the people (Muslims), the message Holy (Quran) and the responsibility (guidance and judgment between right and wrong).
Side by side with the universal responsibility of leading mankind on the proper path, the Holy Quran ordains a special mission for a section of dedicated people to fight for the cause:
“Let there arise out of you/ A band of people/ Inviting to all that is good,/ Enjoining what is right,/ And forbidding what is wrong : /They are the ones/ To attain felicity,” (Sura Al-Imran 3:104)
Here, ‘a band of people’ is called to come out to ‘invite to’ ‘good’ and enjoin ‘right’ and forbid ‘wrong.’
Allama Yusuf Ali comments in this context : “…The ideal Muslim community is happy, untroubled by conflicts or doubts, sure of itself, strong, united and prosperous: because it invites to all that is good; enjoins the right; and forbids the wrong, – a master-stroke of description in three clauses.”
The enjoining of the right and and forbidding the wrong is ‘Amr-e-bil ma’ruf’ and ‘nahi anil munkar’ in the religious term. This assigned duty for every Muslim and specially a section of Muslims, should be rendered in all possible ways.
Rasulullah (Sm) said, “If someone of’ you notice bad deeds, check it with hands. If unable to do so, check it with mouth. If you are unable to do it also, hate (condemn) it with your heart; and with that you will be free from responsibility. But it is a very weak Iman (faith).” (Muslim Sharif, Nasayee Sharif)
The present social environment is very much polluted. Corruption is rampant. Terror prevails. The voice of conscience and human values should be dominant in moulding the future of the nation. The Muslims have that ordained mission to eradicate evils and uplift the society through propagation and establishment of human values. They should shoulder that responsibility.
