Forbidding Evil

What the Bible Says… 

   Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you. (Proverbs 9:7,8). 




What the Qur'an Says… 

   Those among the children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and were ever transgressing beyond bounds. They used not to forbid one another from the wickedness they did.   Verily evil was that they used to do! (Qur'an 5: 78,79). 
   Let there arise of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoying what is right, and forbidding what is wrong and they are the ones who are successful. (Qur'an, 3:104).
   And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another; they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and they pay the poor-due, and they obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour his mercy; for Allah is exalted in power, Wise. (Qur'an, 9:71). 




Commentary… 

   The Bible advises not to rebuke the wicked people in order to avoid hatred and insult. This tolerance towards wickedness resulted in the change and distortion of the religion and the deviation from the teachings of the Prophets in addition to the spread of adultery and evil deeds. Since the Jews didn't use to restrain one another from doing wicked deeds, as soon as the Prophet died they sank into wickedness, adultery and worshiping idols. They did not even wait for the death of Prophet Moses (pbuh); the moment Moses (pbuh) went to the mount, they made the calf and worshiped it. 
   As for Islam, on the one hand, Allah says in the Qur'an: "Let there be no compulsion in religion. (Qur'an, 2:256). You have the freedom to follow the religion you want and throughout the history of Islam, non-Muslims have enjoyed the highest degree of freedom in the Islamic society; none of the Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians or Hindus has ever been forced to become a Muslim. On the other hand, Islam does not support personal freedom at the expense of Allah's Laws and the rights of the community. Islam does not give the freedom to insult our creator Allah the Almighty, nor does it give the freedom to spread wickedness and temp others to commit evil deeds.
   The Quran orders Muslims to command what is good and forbid what is evil. The Islamic teaching is a shield against the storms of wickedness and immortality. Because of this teaching, the religion of Islam has remained pure for fourteen hundred years as if it were preached yesterday, and the Islamic society has remained free from great and shameful sins such as worshiping idols, blasphemy, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, drinking and gambling. Islam does not only want to ensure bodily health, and the cleanness of food and environment, but also wants to purify the society from evil and immoral acts and prevent mental pollution which shakes the belief and corrupts people.