I did indeed convey to you the message for which I was sent by my Lord...
I did indeed convey to you the message for which I was sent by my Lord: I gave you good counsel, but ye love not good counselors!” [The Holy Qur’an, al-A`raaf 7:79] The Qur’an says the following regarding the Prophet Shu’aib : فَتَوَلَّى عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالاَتِ رَبِّي وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ فَكَيْفَ آسَى عَلَى قَوْمٍ كَافِرِينَ So Shu'aib left them, saying: “O my people!
I did indeed convey to you the messages for which I was sent by my Lord: I gave you good counsel, but how shall I lament over a people who refuse to believe!” [The Holy Qur’an, al-A`raaf 7:93] All the Prophets of God were advisors to their nations. All men naturally welcome being advised except those who have lost their purely divine nature. Such people did not pay any attention to the Prophets and were thus seized by a severe punishment.
It is interesting to note that even Satan uses giving advice as a means of fooling people. We read in the following verse of the Holy Qur’an about Satan’s swearing to Adam and Eve that he is their sincere advisor: وَقَاسَمَهُمَا إِنِّي لَكُمَا لَمِنَ النَّاصِحِينَ “And he swore to them both, that he was their sincere advisor.” [The Holy Qur’an, al-A`raaf 7:21] Thus, we should realize that our enemies might sometimes approach us as friends giving us advice in order to corrupt us.
We learned that the Prophets were advisors to their nations. There are several traditions from the Immaculate Imams , which state that believers are also each other’s advisors. Believers Advise Each Other There is a chapter in Usul al-Kafi on “Believer’s Advice.” Imam Sadiq said: يجِبُ لِلمُؤمِنِ عَلى المُؤمِنِ أنْ يُناصِحَهُ.
“It is incumbent upon a believer to give sincere counsel to a(nother) believer.” [^1] The late Allameh Majlisi said in his book Mir’at al-Uqool: “What is meant by advice is guiding them to improve their religious and worldly affairs, and training the ignorant people to fend off harm from them and bring them some benefits.
If they do not accept your advice, you have shown your good intentions by advising them to do good deeds and refrain from evil acts.” The Noble Prophet of God said: لِينْصَحِ الرَّجُلُ مِنكُم أخاهُ كَنصِيحَتِهِ لِنَفسِهِ.