What is Nahi-An-Munkar?

Nahi-An-Munkar means to remind people that they may be doing actions against the pleasure of Allah (swt). It takes a huge amount of courage to be able to speak out and remind someone of their wrong doings, however, it is wajib upon everyone to work towards a community where bad deeds are not common.

Nahi-An-Munkar in the Holy Quran

Allah (swt) says in the Holy Quran:

وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

“There has to be a nation among you summoning to the good, bidding what is right, and forbidding what is wrong. It is they who are the felicitous (3:104).”

Nahi-An-Munkar in the words on Imam Ali (as)

Imam Ali (as) said:

“Do not abandon enjoining good and forbidding evil, otherwise the evil people among you will take charge over you, and then when you supplicate, you will not be answered” (Nahjul Balagah, Letter 47)

Things to remember when performing Nahi-An-Munkar

When performing Nahi-An-Munkar it is very important that we have enough information about the topic we want to remind people about. We must make sure that we are not guilty of performing the same mistakes. We must ensure that we use a gentle approach, and speak to them in a private place and in a polite manner. We must ensure that we do not hurt their feelings, and try to speak in a manner that will help change their heart towards that deed. If we use a harsh tone when performing Nahi-An-Munkar, it is possible that our reminder will have the opposite affect on the person we are reminding.

Extra care must be taken when speaking to parents and elders, and the boundaries of respect must never be crossed. We should also know when to stop speaking about a certain topic. Sometimes gentle reminders are better than constant reminders. Experience has shown that most often Nahi-An-Munkar is more effective when, along with a gentle reminder, we show others by our own actions. When our friends and family see that we are taking care by not preforming certain actions, they also get the courage to make changes in their lifestyle.

Furu-e-Deen

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