Should they abandon the action...

Should they abandon the action, or show remorse after they had done it, this is a sufficient confirmation that they are no longer bent on habitually committing evil deeds. You are, therefore, not required to tell them off, or urge them as the case may be. * At times it occurs to me that a person may be in the process of committing a sin, or turning away from good, is it incumbent on me to act to thwart their bid or urge them to join in what is good as the case may be?

●Yes, you are duty-bound to prevent them from doing that which is vile and sinful, and extol them to embark on that which is good and rewarding. 4. The person committing the sin or turning away from what is virtuous should not be unmindful of the nature of their action, in that they are not aware what they are doing contravenes the sublime injunctions of religion. Otherwise, giving them advice is not compulsory. 5.

The person giving the counsel should not fear the consequences of his word or deed, be it to his person, honour, property, or fellow Muslims. Conversely, championing the obligation can be waived, except if the thing enjoined or forbidden falls within those grave matters in the eye of the Divine Lawgiver. In those circumstances, striking the right balance, between the expected action and the core injunction, becomes paramount. Accordingly, the obligation may or may not be discharged.

* If I want to practise the enjoining of good and forbidding of evil, how should I go about it? - It could be done in levels; the first is expressing your innermost irritation and revulsion for the violation. * Is there a particular way of demonstrating my anger and resentment? - This could take many forms of reactions, showing disapproval of the wrong act that was being committed.

You could turn away from the person who committed it, showing your fury at their deed; and you could stop talking to them. The next level is that you go about propagating enjoining good and forbidding evil by word. * How should I go about this type of action? - By counselling the wrongdoer, reminding him of the severe punishment Allah, the Most High, has in store for those who disobey His injunctions; you could advise him of the reward God has promised those who obey His commandments.

The third level is taking practical action to enforce this divine injunction. * Could you expand on that?

✦ ✦ ✦