in these circumstances. And this accords with the report transmitted from some of the early Muslims—related as well with an elevated chain—which Qadi Abu Yaʿla cites in al-Muʿtamad:

“Only one who is learned in what he commands and learned in what he forbids, gentle in what he commands and gentle in what he forbids, forbearing in what he commands and forbearing in what he forbids, should enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.”

Let it be understood that observing these qualities while carrying out the duty of commanding right and forbidding wrong weighs heavily on many souls. Some imagine, therefore, that the burden is lifted from them and so abandon the task altogether—an omission that harms them more, or at least no less, than performing the duty without those qualities. For forsaking an obligatory act is itself a sin; moving from one sin to a greater one is like fleeing the scorching desert only to plunge into the fire. Shifting from one act of disobedience to another is akin to exchanging one false religion for another: the second may be worse than the first, it may be less, or they may be equal. In the same way, you will find that the shortcoming of the one who neglects the duty and the excess of the one who oversteps its bounds may render either of them more blameworthy, or place them on the same level of guilt.

Sins Are the Cause of Calamities

It is well-known—from the signs Allah shows us in the horizons and within ourselves, and from His own testimony in the Revelation—that sins bring about calamities. The evil of a misfortune and the requital that accompanies it both stem from the evil of one’s deeds, while obedience is the cause of blessing: good conduct invites Allah’s goodness. The Exalted said:

“Whatever affliction befalls you is because of what your own hands have earned, yet He pardons much.” ⦗Q 42:30⦘