Chapter 24: The Severe Punishment for One Who Commands Good or Forbids Evil Yet Acts Contrary to His Words

Allah the Exalted says, “Do you command people to righteousness and forget your own selves while you recite the Scripture? Will you not reason?” (Al-Baqarah 44).

He also 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.” (As-Saff 2–3).

And He relates the words of Shuʿayb, peace be upon him: “I do not intend to do the very things from which I forbid you.” (Hud 88).

[Explanation]

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—entitles this chapter “The Severe Punishment of One Who Commands Good or Forbids Evil Yet Acts Contrary to His Words.” Since the previous chapter dealt with the obligation of commanding what is right and forbidding what is wrong, it is appropriate to follow it with a chapter that stresses the grave punishment awaiting anyone who urges others to do good without doing it himself, or who forbids an evil yet perpetrates it himself—and we seek refuge with Allah.

A person in this state is not truthful in his injunctions and prohibitions; for if he were sincere in enjoining good, convinced that what he commands is beneficial, he would be the first to practice it—provided he possessed sound reason. Likewise, if he forbade an evil while believing it harmful and sinful, he would be the first to abandon it, were he of sound mind. Consequently, when someone commands good yet neglects it, or forbids evil yet commits it, it is evident that his words do not rest on genuine conviction—may Allah protect us.

For this reason Allah censured such behavior, saying, “Do you command the people…"