(Part 12)
Rifat Shafiq
In the series on the negative traits of the Jews, we will, in this section, discuss another important and dangerous characteristic of theirs.
11. Silence in the face of corruption and abandoning enjoining good and forbidding evil
Among the wrongful practices that were particularly common among the Jews, especially among their scholars, was that they would remain silent in the face of evil and corrupt actions, and they would abandon the great obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil.
For clarification of this trait, we turn to the verses of the Holy Qur’an and Hadith. Allah Almighty, says in the Holy Qur’an:
﴿لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ … كَانُوا لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ﴾ (المائدة: 78-79)
Translation: “Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed, because they used not to forbid one another from wrongdoing.”
Under the commentary of this verse, Allama Al-Qurtubi (RH) states:
قوله تعالى: كانوا لا يتناهون أي: لا ينهى بعضهم بعضا، لبئس ما كانوا يفعلون، ذمٌّ لتركهم النهي.
Translation: The statement of Allah Almighty “كانوا لا يتناهون” means that they did not prevent one another from committing evil acts, and “لبئس ما كانوا يفعلون” means that it was indeed a very evil deed which they used to commit. Thus, they were condemned because they had abandoned the obligation of forbidding evil.
Imam Abu Dawood (RH) has narrated a hadith in his book regarding this matter:
عن عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلی الله علیه وسلم: إن أول ما دخل النقص على بني إسرائيل كان الرجل أول ما يلقى الرجل فيقول يا هذا اتق الله ودع ما تصنع فإنه لا يحل لك، ثم يلقاه من الغد فلا يمنعه ذلك أن يكون أكيله وشريبه وقعيده، فلما فعلوا ذلك ضرب الله قلوب بعضهم ببعض.
Translation: It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
“The beginning of corruption and weakness among the Children of Israel occurred in this way: a man would say to another, ‘O so-and-so, fear Allah and abandon this act, for it is not permissible for you.’ But the next day he would meet him again and would not prevent him from sitting with him, eating with him, and keeping his companionship. When they did this, Allah turned their hearts against one another (i.e., discord and disunity arose among them).”
This characteristic of the Jews was not limited only to past nations; rather, it is also observed among them in the present time. For this reason, they do not possess true unity among themselves. Although some people assume that they are united, this notion is not correct. Allah Almighty says: “You would think they are united, but their hearts are divided.”
In contrast to this, Allah the Almighty has described the believers with a different attribute: that they fulfill the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil.
﴿وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ … يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ﴾ (التوبة: 71)
Translation: “The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.”