2. The Forgotten Obligation | Muharram 2026

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fGUG4YzDNo

The lecture by Sheikh Mohammed Al-Hilli (38:24 - 1:46:16) focuses on the concept of Amr bil Ma'ruf wa Nahy 'anil Munkar (enjoining the good and forbidding the evil), describing it as a neglected yet essential obligation in Islam.

Key takeaways from the lecture:

• The Significance of the Duty: The Sheikh emphasises that this obligation is the objective of *Imam Hussein (AS)'s mission. Neglecting it leads to negative consequences, such as the loss of divine mercy, the rise of corrupt leaders, and the non-acceptance of prayers (59:20 - 59:54).
  

• The Story of the Sabbath Breakers: The *Sheikh* analyzes the Quranic story of the community of *Bani Israel* who violated Sabbath laws. He highlights three groups: those who committed the sin, those who stood against it (the reformers), and those who remained silent.

• He explains that God punished not only the transgressors but also those who were silent, underscoring that indifference to injustice is not an option (1:03:05 - 1:12:30).
  

• Conditions for Implementation:There are specific criteria to observe before acting:

  • Knowledge: You must be certain that the action being performed is indeed prohibited in *Sharia* (1:14:42).

  • Potential for Success: There must be a reasonable expectation that your advice will have an impact. However, even if it might not change the person, one must express internal and outward dissatisfaction (1:18:01 - 1:19:35).

  • Consistency: The practice should address repetitive behavior rather than one-off mistakes (1:19:37 - 1:20:17).

  • Safety: One should not perform this duty if it leads to physical harm greater than the benefit of the action itself (1:20:18 - 1:20:56).
    

The Three Levels of Action:

1. Through the Heart: Feeling internal disgust and disapproval of evil (1:21:17 - 1:24:22).

2. Through the Tongue: Using soft and kind words to correct others, rather than harsh condemnation (1:24:24 - 1:28:40).

3. Through the Hand: This level is generally restricted to the permission of the *Imam* or his qualified representatives (1:28:43 - 1:29:16).

The Call of *Imam Hussein (AS): The *Sheikh* explains that while the Imam was harmed, his sacrifice was necessary to strip away the false mask that had been placed on Islam. He urges the community to stop being indifferent and to actively practice these principles within their families and communities (1:29:17 - 1:34:04).