Munkar (Evil, Sinfulness)

As opposed to the term Ma’ruf, the term Munkar has been repeatedly used in the Quran and in Ahadith of our Holy Prophet, be peace and blessings of Allah upon him. Munkar refers to all matters unknown and strange to be recognized as against those which are known and acknowledged by all. Every good acknowledged in human history by sound wisdom as a noble deed is Ma’ruf and each of the deeds that have been rejected by the pure and sinless human nature as an evil deed is Munkar. As a single and suitable translation the word ‘abomination’ may be used to illustrate the meanings. The term is singular but is generally used in the plural sense. Munkar includes all the evils. All kinds of Fuhsh (lewdness and shamefulness) are Munkar but all forms of Munkar may not be Fuhsh. Munkr is the most nauseating and very disgusting moral condition occurring in a society.

Imam Fakhruddin Razi maintains forces of Munkar bid to transpose all the evils and wickedness, all the troubles and tribulations and all pains and sufferings to the entire mankind.

Islam does not allow it and the Muslim society can never afford to let Munkar take roots in its ranks. The Quran says that fighting against Munkar is the main mission of the Muslim Ummah and the reason for its distinctive position among the groups of people. It has been commissioned to eradicate Munkar from its roots.
“You (true believers) are the best of people ever raised up from mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma’ruf and forbid Al-Munkar and you believe in Allah…” (Aal Imran: 110)

Allah wants a group of sincere and pious people to always prevent Munkar from catching roots in the Muslim society. The Quran says, laying emphasis on the matter:
“Let there arise out a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining Al-Ma’ruf and forbidding Al-Munkar. And it is they who are the successful.” (Aal Imran: 104)

We find the Messenger of Allah, be peace and blessings upon him, in many of his Ahadith repeatedly warning us to be mindful about the duty of enjoining Ma’ruf and forbidding Munkar. Tirmidhi has related on the authority of Huzaifah (RA) that the Prophet, SAW, said: “By Him in whose Hands is my life, you will have to keep on enjoining Al-Ma’ruf and forbidding Al-Munkar otherwise the time will not be too far when Allah will unleash His wrath upon you as punishment, then you will pray to him and He will not respond to you.”
In another Hadith he is reported to have said: “Whosoever of you sees an evil (Munkar) let him change it with his hand (prevent it by force); and if he is unable (has no power) to do so then with his tongue (express protest at the situation); and if he is still not able to do so then with his heart (he should dislike and disapprove Munkar) and that is the weakest stage of Faith. (Muslim)

The Messenger has given the reason for the spread of moral corruption among the Children of Israel (the Jews) and said:
“The first defect which became the practice of the Children of Israel was that when any one of them met another (and saw him doing bad things) he used to say: “O you, be afraid of Allah and leave what you do because it is not lawful for you to do so.” Then the same persons met each other the next day and the evil doer was in the same condition. His bad deed did not hold the man back from eating, drinking and sitting with the man whom he dissuaded on the previous day. When they did so their hearts became alike.” Then the Prophet, SAW, quoted the verses 78-81 of Surah Al-Maidah which say:“Those among the Children of Israel (the Jews) were cursed by the tongue of Dawud (David) and Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). That was because they disobeyed (Allah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bounds. They used not to forbid one another from Munkar which they committed. Vile indeed was that they used to do…”

Then the Prophet, SAW, said: “No, By Allah, you will have to enjoin Al-Ma’ruf and will have to forbid Al-Munkar. You will have to grasp the hands of the cruel (to stop him from cruelty). You will have to convince him to give the rights of others and will have to make him content with his own right, otherwise you will be cursed as they (the Jews) were cursed by Allah.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)

We agree the views of Sayyed Qutab that having the authority is essential to perform the duty of enjoining Al-Ma’ruf and forbidding Munkar. No doubt, the task of eliminating Munkar (all kinds and all shapes of evil) and establishing Ma’ruf (all kinds of good and nobility) requires some power to crush the Satanic forces in doing the noble job. Most of our great scholars and theologians had the same concept as Sayyed Qutab had, and of course that is learned from the verse 41 of Surah Al-Hajj which says:
“Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them the power in the land, (they) enjoin the establishment of regular prayer, payment of Zakat and they enjoin Al-Ma’ruf and forbid Al-Munkar. And with Allah rests the end of (all) matters.”

If the true believers become ruling authorities anywhere they are under the obligation to close the main door in the state for Satanic elements. But the government is not the only door from where the venomous blows of evil and wickedness come. The noble forces should not keep on waiting for the time to be the sovereign power in the state. In the society there are dozens of windows of the smaller proportions from where Munkar spreads if there is no check on it. Some people enjoy the esteem, importance and control in the administrative, financial, educational establishments to get their decisions accepted. They are bound by their faith, moral duty and sense of righteousness to close the doors of evil forces, prevent them from becoming effective in those particular circles of the society. A family head in his house, a company manager in the boundaries of his company, a head of an educational institution within the premises of his institution and so on, all who have some powers in their respective circles, are responsible for restricting Munkar. The principle of accountability of all those who have some sphere of influence was laid down by Allah’s Messenger, be peace and blessings upon him, when he said:
“Each one of you is (like) a shepherd for his herd. The ruler is a shepherd (responsible for his flock/subjects). Man is accountable for his family. A woman is accountable for the house of her husband and his children. So, all of you are shepherds (responsible). Every one of you is responsible for his herd (all those who are under his control).” (Agreed upon)

One sourest fruit of negligence and abandonment of the obligation of enjoining Al-Ma’ruf and forbidding Al-Munkar is the curse from Alla as stated in the Quran. One very dismaying result stated by the Messenger of Allah, be peace and blessings upon him. While addressing his companions, once he said:
“(Imagine) what will be the condition when your wives and children will become disobedient and rude?” The companions asked: “Will it happen, O Messenger of Allah”?
The Prophet, SAW, said: “Worse than that.”
“What will be worse than that, O Prophet of Allah?” The companions required.
“You will stop enjoining Al-Ma’ruf and forbidding Al-Munkar.” The Holy Prophet, SAW, replied.
“Will it happen? O Messenger of Allah?” The companions asked inquisitively.
“Worse than that is going to happen.” Again the Messenger of Allah gave the same answer.
“What can be worse than that, O Messenger of Allah?” Again the same question came on their tongues.
“You will start enjoining Al-Munkar and forbidding Al-Maruf.” Replied the Messenger of Allah, be peace and blessings upon him.
“Will it happen, O Prophet of Allah?” The question came from the depth of anxiety and fear.
“Yes, but worse than that.” Once more shocking words came.
It increased the concern which appeared in the question again. “What is worse than that, O Prophet of Allah?”
The Messenger’s answer was: “Ma’ruf will become Munkar and Munkar will become Ma’ruf among you.”

Last degree of the minds’ pollution is that the standards of morality and decency become topsy-turvy. The meanings of the terms get reversed. The scales to measure the matters and values are upset. Vices are regarded as virtues. Wickedness is esteemed as righteousness. Sins are deemed to be noble deeds. Unfair means successfully to earn wealth are thought to be wisdom. Deception is believed to be cleverness. Those who are dishonest are introduced as honest people. This is taking place in the ranks of the Muslim Ummah and also becoming an international standard and trait. At present most of the terms regarding social, political and moral values have the meanings absolutely contrary to those in practice and order. Justice, democracy, human rights, liberty, freedom, culture and art are some of the jumbled terms, for example, which are used as a cover to connive the odious and abominable imperialistic designs of the powers controlling the world with the whip of economic, political and military force.

The existing societies, including the Muslims, are very bitterly experiencing all that was fore-told by the Messenger of Allah, be peace and blessings upon him. When the moral and spiritual decline of the communities reaches a level where on every step the acts and deeds clash with the Creator’s Plan of making the world worth living, that is the time of uprooting the existing civilization and its banner holders, may there be some from among the Muslim Ummah and replacing them by another group of people, if there is any up to the standard of the Creator. If there is no such morally, spiritually, intellectually and physically competent group of people anywhere on the face of the earth, then it becomes indispensable to cleanse the earth by an overwhelming chastisement by the forces of nature.