The Essence of the Holy Qur’an

Upholding Goodness and Resisting Evil

“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.” (Surah: 3, Al-i ‘Imran, Verse No: 110)

A Muslim should strive to be a good person, a truthful servant of Allah (SWT), and a virtuous individual. At the same time, every believer carries the responsibility of reflecting their goodness within society and standing firmly against evil. This sacred duty is known as “amr bi al-ma’ruf wa nahy an al-munkar”—to enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong. The Almighty Allah (SWT) describes the Muslim Ummah as a community of believers who are conscientious and sensible, as stated in the verse above.

Faith and goodness are inseparable. As Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “The essence of virtue is good morals.” Therefore, all noble qualities—justice, respect, honesty, loyalty, tolerance, and others—are part of goodness. A Muslim is a representative of this goodness. Through their conduct, they keep goodness alive, and through their words, they invite others to it—with wisdom, kind advice, and authentic knowledge. Following the Prophet’s guidance, they make life easier, not harder, and they give glad tidings instead of driving people away.

Such individuals nurture good thoughts (husn al-dhann) toward their Muslim brothers and sisters, knowing that faith requires both good thinking and good speech. They assume positive intent in others and treat them with compassion. They uphold purity, honesty, and righteousness in every aspect of life. Let us, therefore, always strive to enjoin the good and prevent the evil—within the bounds of our knowledge, experience, and ability. Let us remember that this is both a religious obligation and a human duty upon each of us. And let us hold firmly to the belief that every sincere step taken in the cause of enjoining good and forbidding evil will surely be rewarded by Allah (SWT).