(44) “Do you command people to righteousness?”

“Do you command people to righteousness?”—that is, to faith and goodness—“and forget yourselves?” That is, you neglect to command yourselves to do the same, even though “you recite the Scripture. Will you not then reason?”

The Arabic term aql(1), meaning reason, is so named because it enables a person to grasp the good that benefits him and restrains him from what harms him. Reason urges its possessor to be the first to practice what he commands and the first to refrain from what he forbids. Whoever commands another to do good yet does not do it himself, or forbids him evil yet does not abandon it, thereby demonstrates his lack of reason and his ignorance—especially when he knows better and the proof has been established against him.

Although this verse was revealed concerning the Children of Israel, it applies universally, for Allah says: “O you who believe, why do you say what you do not do? It is most hateful in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.”

The verse does not mean that if a person fails to do what he commands, he should cease enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. Rather, it rebukes him regarding both obligations. It is well known that a person has two obligations: to command and forbid others, and to command and restrain himself. Neglecting one does not grant him license to neglect the other. Perfection lies in fulfilling both obligations, while utter deficiency lies in abandoning both. Fulfilling one but not the other does not attain the rank of the former, yet it is better than the latter. Moreover, people are naturally disinclined to follow anyone whose actions contradict his words. Thus, setting an example through one’s actions is more effective than doing so through words alone.