Tafsir of Al-Ma'idah 5:79

كانوا ﻻ يتناهون عن منكر فعلوه

They used not to forbid one another from the evil they committed. They did not forbid each other from committing sins and the prohibitions. Allah chastised them for this behavior, so that their behavior would not be imitated. Allah said,

لبيس ما كانوا يفعلون

Vile indeed was what they used to do. Hadiths that Order Enjoining Righteousness and Forbidding Evil There are many Hadiths that order enjoining righteousness and forbidding evil. Imam Ahmad recorded that Hudhayfah bin Al-Yaman said that the Prophet said,

والذي نفسي بيده لتٲمرن بالمعروف ولتنهون عن المنكر أو ليوشكن الله أن يبعث عليكم عقابا من عنده ثم لتدعنه فﻼ يستجيب لكم

By He in Whose Hand is my soul! You will enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, or Allah will send a punishment on you from Him. Then, you will supplicate to Him, but He will not accept your supplication. At-Tirmidhi also recorded it and said, "This Hadith is Hasan.'' Muslim recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah said,

من رأى منكم منكرا فليغيره بيده فٳن لم يستطع فبلسانه فٳن لم يستطع فبقلبه وذلك أضعف اﻻيمان

He among you who witnesses an evil, let him change it with his hand, if he cannot do that, then by his tongue, if he cannot do even that, then with his heart, and this is the weakest faith. Abu Dawud said that Al-Urs, (meaning Ibn Amirah), said that the Prophet said,

إذا عملت الخطيية في اﻻرض كان من شهدها فكرهها وقال مرة فٲنكرها كان كمن غاب عنها ومن غاب عنها فرضيها كان كمن شهدها

When sin is committed on the earth, then whoever witnesses it and hates - (once he said): forbids it, will be like those who did not witness it. Whoever was absent from it, but agreed with it, will be like those who witness it. Only Abu Dawud recorded this Hadith. Abu Dawud recorded that one of the Companions said that the Prophet said,

لن يهلك الناس حتى يعذروا أو يعذروا من أنفسهم

The people will not perish until they do not leave -or- have any excuse for themselves. Ibn Majah recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah gave a speech once and said,

أﻻ ﻻ يمنعن رجﻼ هيبة الناس أن يقول الحق إذا علمه

Behold! Fear from people should not prevent one from saying the truth if he knows it. Abu Sa`id then cried and said, "By Allah! We have seen some errors, but we feared (the people).'' Another Hadith that Abu Sa`id narrated states that the Messenger of Allah said,

أفضل الجهاد كلمة حق عند سلطان جاير

The best Jihad is a word of truth proclaimed before an unjust ruler. Recorded by Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Gharib from this route of narration.'' Imam Ahmad recorded that Hudhayfah said that the Prophet said,

ﻻ ينبغي لمسلم أن يذل نفسه

It is not required of the Muslim that he humiliate himself. They said, `How does one humiliate himself?'' he said;

يتعرض من البﻼء لما ﻻ يطيق

He takes on trials that he is not capable of enduring. This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, and At-Tirmidhi said, "This Hadith is Hasan Sahih Gharib.'' Censuring the Hypocrites Allah said,