and detest it. Knowing its ugliness requires striving against the disbelievers and hypocrites when they are present. When the wrong is absent, this is not required. Whoever opposes it when it occurs is rewarded, whereas someone in whose presence it has not occurred is not rewarded until he opposes it.

Likewise, many people may turn away from the objectionable words and deeds included in this, just as they turn away from striving against the disbelievers and hypocrites and from enjoining right and forbidding wrong. Although such people are among those who have forsaken evil deeds, they are not among those who strive to eliminate them until there is no more fitnah and religion is entirely for Allah.

Reflect on this, for these two attitudes often coexist in many people: hatred of disbelief and its adherents and of wickedness and its practitioners, alongside an aversion to admonishing them and striving against them. Similarly, someone may love what is right and those who practise it, yet have no desire to enjoin it or strive for it with his life and wealth.

Allah Most High has said:

“The believers are only those who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then have never doubted, and have striven with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is they who are the truthful.”

And He Most High has said:

“Say, ‘If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your spouses, your kindred, wealth you have acquired, trade whose decline you fear, and dwellings you delight in are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His cause, then wait until Allah brings about His command. Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.’”

And His words:

“You will not find people who believe in Allah and the Last Day showing affection to those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons