When people see an oppressor but do not stop him, Allah will soon overwhelm them with a pu…

Islam > Hadiths > Enjoining good and forbidding evil > When people see an oppressor but do not stop him, Allah will soon overwhelm them with a pu…

Hadith narrated by Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasā’i in Al-Kubra and by Ibn Mājah and Ahmad

Authentic

Sommaire

Hadith text
Explanation of the hadith
Lessons of the hadith

Updated on 24 September 2026 at 12:34 AM

📖 1 min read

Hadith text: When people see an oppressor but do not stop him, Allah…

Explanation of the hadith: When people see an oppressor but do not stop him, Allah…

Abu Bakr as-Siddīq (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that people recite the following verse:

{O you who believe, take care of your own selves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you as long as you are guided.} [Surat al-Mā’idah: 105]

and the meaning they grasp therefrom is that one should work on reforming himself alone, bearing in mind that the misguidance of others can never harm him after that and that they are not required to enjoin good or forbid evil.

However, he informed them that this was not the true meaning of the verse and that he heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: When people see the oppressor and do not stop him from practicing his oppression, despite having the ability to do so, Allah will soon overwhelm all of them, the evildoer and the one remaining silent regarding this, with a punishment from Him.

Lessons: When people see an oppressor but do not stop him, Allah…

Exchanging advice, enjoining good, and forbidding evil are among the Muslims' duties.
Allah's universal punishment includes the oppressor for his oppression and the one who remains silent without forbidding such oppression if he has the ability to forbid it.
Teaching common people and helping them understand the Qur’anic texts in the right manner.
One should assign good care to understanding the Book of Allah Almighty so as not to understand it in a way different from that which He has meant it to be understood.
Guidance cannot be attained without enjoining good and forbidding evil.
The right interpretation of the verse: keep guarding yourselves against sins, and if you guard yourselves, the misguidance of whoever commits the prohibitions will not harm you, if you are not able to enjoin good and forbid evil and if you are guided to avoid such prohibitions.

Categories : Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil · Ruling of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil · Da‘wah and Hisbah

← The example of the one who abides by the limits prescribed by Allah an… By the One in Whose Hand my soul is! Either you command good and forbi… →

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Tue 15 Jumada al-Awwal
الثلاثاء 15 جمادى الأولى

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

God and His angels shower their blessings on the Prophet. O believers, you should also send your blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

Al-Ahzab 33:56

Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ