Islam thinks that the miseries and the deprivation of some...
Islam thinks that the miseries and the deprivation of some societies of divine blessings and also their destruction and their annihilation are due to the fact that this principle is not carried out properly in those nations.[^2] Imam ‘Ali (as), regarding this, in a sermon emphasizes that: "اِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَن كَانَ قَبلَكُم حَيثُ مَا عَمِلُوا مِنَ المَعاصِي وَلَم يَنهَهُم الرَبَّانِيُونَ وَالاحبَارُ عَن ذَلِكَ وَاِنَّهُم لَمَّا تَمَادَوا في المَعاصِي وَلَم يَنهَهُم الرَبَّانِيُونَ وَالاَحبَارُ عَن ذَلِكَ نَزَلَت بِهِم العُقُوبَات" "The nations before you were only destroyed because of the sins they committed, and the priests and rabbis did not stop them from that.
When they persevered in sinning and the priests and rabbis did not stop them, punishments descended on them”.
[^3] Since the implementation of this principle makes firm the foundations of Divine commandments and erases the vestiges of wrong belief, injustice and corruption, Islam considers the abandonment of this principle as war against God.[^4] Imam ‘Ali (as), in his last will, considers this issue: "لا تَتْرُكُوا الأَمرَ بِالمَعرُوفِ وَالنَهيَ عَنِ المُنكَرِ فَيُولّى عَلَيكُم اَشْرارُكُم ثُمَّ تَدعُونَ فَلا يُستَجَابُ لَكُم" "Do not abandon the principle of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, or else the the evil among you will have authority over you.
Then you will pray but your prayers will not be answered." [^5] B. The Degrees Of The Principle Of Enjoining The Good And Forbidding The Evil This principle has degrees, some of which apply to all individuals of a community without having related to the government; some other degrees apply to those individuals who are given some social tasks. These degrees include: i. Those who are happy by nature to do good and unhappy to perform the evil. ii.
Those who verbally enjoin the good and forbid the evil. iii. Those who by force implement the principle of enjoing the good and forbidding the evil; these may use punishments if felt necessary. Regarding these, let us observe the following traditions: Imam ‘Ali (as) has stated: "اِنَّمَا يَجمَعُ النّاسُ الرِّضا وَالسَخَطَ، فَمَن رَضِيَ اَمراً فَقَد دَخَلَ فِيهِ وَمَن سَخِطَهُ فَقَد خَرَجَ مِنهُ" "Only two things gather people together: pleasure and anger.
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