Such is the way of most powerful wrongdoers.

What we see in the sphere of vice has its counterpart—in fact, an even stronger counterpart—in the sphere of virtue. Allah, exalted is He, says, “But those who believe are stronger in their love for Allah” (Qur’an 2:165).

The pull of goodness is more powerful. Within every human being there is an impulse that invites him to faith and knowledge, to honesty and justice, to the fulfillment of trusts. When he sees someone else acting in that manner, a second motive awakens in him—especially if the other person is his peer, and all the more so when a spirit of competition is present; this is commendable and praiseworthy. If, in addition, he finds believers and righteous people who love him when he agrees with them in such deeds and dislike him when he does not, a third motive arises. Finally, when they command him to do those deeds, ally themselves with him for doing them, and oppose or even punish him for neglecting them, a fourth motive comes into play.

For this reason believers are commanded to confront evil deeds with their opposites among good deeds, just as a physician treats sickness with its opposite. The believer is therefore instructed to rectify his own soul in two ways: by performing good deeds and by abstaining from evil ones—while also eliminating whatever nullifies good deeds and removing whatever engenders evil deeds. Together these form four categories.

He is likewise commanded to reform others through the same four categories, each according to his capacity and ability. Allah, the Most High, says:

“By Time! Surely man is in loss, except those who believe and do righteous deeds and enjoin one another to truth and enjoin one another to patience.” (Qur’an 103:1-3)

It is related from al-Shafi‘i, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, “If people were to reflect only on Surah ‘By Time,’ it would suffice them.” And indeed he spoke the truth, for Allah