The Haraam Police or The Halal Police
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
One of the most important actions that helps maintain Islam’s clear path, rectifies people’s behavior and character is enjoining what is correct and forbidding what is incorrect. This plays a major role in aiding society and mankind. When the believer with complete faith has been guided to what’s truthful, he desires the same for others. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “None of you will have complete faith until he loves for his brother the same things he loves for himself.”[1]
Allah warns us about trials and calamities that befall upon mankind. The Most High says: Beware of a trial that will not only affect the wrong doers among you.” [2] The refers to acts of disobedience that are done publicly and not rejected, but rather ignored. For that reason, a person who remains silent on evil is distrustful towards his brother. The beauty of enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong is to educate the ignorant and guide the misguided. This act is more charitable than giving money.
Unfortunately, today there are a group of people who think that this isn’t necessary or required. In fact, some people prefer to remain astray or sinful and when others advise them, they mock them with names like the Haraam Police. The people who use such a term for an advisor are in reality making mockery of the deen. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Whoever amongst you sees an evil then let him change it physically, and if he’s unable to do so, then let him change it verbally, otherwise then let him hate it in his heart.”[3]
These words of commandment from the last of Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) clearly instruct you and I to avoid being mute when evil or misguidance is practiced, yet how is it that when some err and sin are corrected they label the people helping them, “The Haraam Police”, !? Giving advice is from the greatest methods of correcting and rectifying one’s bad character allowing him to live a life of happiness in this world and in the next. This is why Allah encourages it in many places of the Quran.
He says: And let there arise a group from among you inviting people to everything that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.”[4]
How is it that this generation of Muslims want to be left to follow their evil desires and ridicule those who advise them with the motto, the Haraam Police?!
Allah mentions that those people who hasten to stop sin and misguidance are the true believers. i.e complete Iman. He says: “They believe in Allah and the Last Day, encourage good and forbid evil, and race with one another in doing good. They are truly among the righteous.”[5]
It’s duty on the callers of Islam in specifically and all those who have knowledge of what’s right and wrong to speak up to educate those unaware. This is part of fulfilling Allah’s rights by not abandoning their brothers/sisters wandering blindly. Allah says : They are those who if established in the land by Us, would perform prayer, pay zakah, encourage what is good and forbid what is evil.”[6]
In other words, these people when given the authority in the land they don’t leave those they are responsible for astray, rather they advise them, prevent them from evil and invite them towards good. Hence, when they do this Allah would further bless them with more stability in the land and make them successful in the both worlds.
On the contrary, those who have knowledge and know the difference between what’s right and wrong and then choose to remain silent face the risk of earning Allah’s wrath! The Most Wise says: Those who hide the clear proofs and guidance that We have revealed after We made it clear for humanity in the Book-will be condemned by Allah and all those who condemn.[7] Therefore, there has be some kind of policing to make sure the guidance is shared.
This policing applies to both man and female. Allah says: The believers; both men and women, are guardians of one another. They encourage good and forbid evil. [8] The Muslim females have a duty towards their sisters and siblings by advising them. When they notice other females out of line on social media it is upon them to tell them to straighten up.
Advise must be given in a polite way, and the one receiving advise has to take in a kind way. Advise serves a guidance; thus, when given one should be thankful and not bitter. Only an ignorant person looks at advise as being something worthless or degrading. Every so often people when given guidance and instruction get angry, due to the fact they are consumed in their desires, so they will attack those trying to save them. Allah says: When it is said to them, “Fear Allah,” pride carries them off to sin. Hell will be their proper place. What an evil place to rest![9]”
The dangers of titling advisors, “The Haraam Police”, further establishes that some Muslims prefer hypocrisy to Iman. They prefer to rebel against the Shariah of Allah, His Messenger and the believers. Allah said: The hypocrites, both men and women, are all alike. They encourage what is evil. Forbid what is good, and withhold what is in their hands. They neglected Allah, so He neglected them. Surely the hypocrites are the rebellious.[10]
In addition to the hypocrisy found in those who call their brethren in faith trying to save them the Haraam Police, lies the greatest danger of all-Kufr. Making a mockery of the religion is disbelief. Allah says: If you question them, they will certainly say, “We were only talking idly and joking around. “Say, Was it Allah, His revelations, and His Messenger that you ridiculed? “Make no excuses! You have lost faith after belief.”[11]
The calamity of this subject shows us just how far we have declined as a Muslim nation. Some us are willing to reject guidance in clear-cut issues of Halal and Haraam, thus when one reminds us of something being Haraam, we reply the Haraam police. When one tells you this isn’t from the guidance of the Messenger of Allah, you reply the haram police. May Allah guide us to what’s correct. May Allah show us the truth as it is and allow us to follow. May Allah show us the falsehood as it is and allow us to avoid it.
Prepare by your brother in need of Allah’s Mercy
Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle
Doha, Qatar 1444H©
[1] Muslim 45
[2] 8:25
[3] An-Nasa’I 5009
[4] 3:104
[5] 3:114
[6] 22:41
[7] 2:159
[8] 9:71
[9] 2:206
[10] 9:67
[11] 9:65-66