Mutual responsibility

“Your Lord tells you to order people to do good deeds and to prohibit them from evil deeds and to stop the oppressor from oppression, before a severe punishment befalls you.”

WHEN people begin to turn away from good deeds and from purity and morality, they begin to indulge in that which is evil, illicit and unacceptable. Further, in order to continue with this evil and mischief, which satan always beautifies, not only do they shamelessly try to justify their wrong doings but they go further and even begin to oppress those who actually try to prevent them from that.

Rather than acknowledging such people who try to stop them from wrong doing as well-wishers, they foolishly turn against them in a kind of denial of the true human values and morals which are to be upheld by every sane human being. This obviously reflects a serious mental crisis on their part, which truly demands communal correction and help.

If such people are allowed to continue with their evil and transgression, and no effort is made to remind them and prohibit them, The Almighty has declared that some “severe punishment” will befall all (the entire community).

Thus, the only way to be saved from this punishment is to encourage and to increase all good and pure deeds (honesty, justice, charity, morality, tolerance, mercy, etc.) and to prohibit all immoral and evil deeds (adultery, fornication, falsehood, deception, stealing, etc) and to stop the oppressors from all forms of oppression (bribery, corruption, accusations, ruthlessness, intolerance, etc.).

This is a mutual responsibility upon one and all in community and society, for the sake of the greater common good and for the sake of averting the wrath of The Almighty.

Evil cannot be left unchecked and an oppressor cannot be allowed to get away with injustice and oppression.

Civil society must speak up and actively engage the relevant authorities to exercise due diligence in this regard.

For further information on Islam, please contact: ◆ Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe,

Publications Department, P.O. Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare

Tel: 024-2614078 / 0242614004 e mail : majliszw@ yahoo.com