The Qur'anic and Prophetic Discourse on The Eradication of Evil and The Contemporary Scenario
By Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi, New Age Islam
20 February 2026
Abstract:
The article explains that Islam encourages people to stand against evil and injustice in a balanced way. It does not allow insulting others without reason, but it allows an oppressed person to complain and speak against the oppressor. The Qur’an teaches Muslims to promote good and stop wrong actions, which makes society peaceful and morally healthy. The Prophet taught three levels of resisting evil: stop it by action, speak against it, or at least reject it in the heart. Remaining silent allows wrongdoing to spread and harm the whole community. Islam also teaches that truth must be spoken even before powerful rulers, and fear of people should not prevent honesty. The companions promised to always speak the truth wherever they were. Today many people support the powerful and ignore the weak, which increases injustice. Therefore, real peace and stability can only be achieved when society follows the moral guidance of the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet.
Main Points:
· Islam permits oppressed people to speak against injustice and defend their dignity openly.
· Muslims must promote good deeds and actively prevent wrong actions within society everywhere.
· Evil should be resisted by action, speech, or at least rejected sincerely in heart.
· Speaking truth before unjust rulers is considered a great moral and religious courage.
· Peaceful society develops only when people reject injustice and follow moral teachings faithfully.
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Islam allows people to speak against oppression and wrongdoing. However, it is also true that Islam does not like someone to speak badly about others without a valid reason.At the same time, a victim of oppression may complain about the injustice and speak out against the oppressor. This is a balanced and healthy form of freedom of expression.
The Holy Qur’an explains this very clearly:
لَّا يُحِبُّ اللّـٰهُ الْجَهْرَ بِالسُّوٓءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ اِلَّا مَنْ ظُلِمَ ۚ وَكَانَ اللّـٰهُ سَـمِيْعًا عَلِيْمًا ۔ ( النساء: 148)
“Allah does not like the public mention of evil speech except by the one who has been wronged. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”
From this verse we learn that Islam strongly supports raising one’s voice against evil. When evil is removed from society, people can live in peace and goodness. A righteous society produces lasting and positive effects.
Today we often see violence, unrest and corruption in society. One major reason is that people remain silent about wrong practices and immoral behaviour. Therefore, if we want lasting peace and prosperity, we must take steps to stop injustice and eliminate evil.
The Qur’an calls the Muslim community the best nation because it promotes good and prevents evil:
كُنْتُـمْ خَيْـرَ اُمَّةٍ اُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَاْمُرُوْنَ بِالْمَعْرُوْفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُـوْنَ بِاللّـٰهِ ۗ ( آل عمران: 110)
“You are the best nation raised for mankind: you command what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.”
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also said:
مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ، وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الإِيمَانِ ۔ ( الصحیح المسلم ، کتاب الایمان ،باب بيان كون النهي عن المنكر من الإيمان وان الإيمان يزيد وينقص وان الامر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر واجبان)
“Whoever among you sees a wrong should change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue. If he cannot, then with his heart — and that is the weakest level of faith.”
This Hadith explains three levels of stopping evil:
Stop it with power or action if possible.
Speak against it if action is not possible.
At least consider it wrong in the heart — though this is the weakest faith.
If evil is not recognised as evil and no effort is made to stop it, it gradually grows bigger and harms the whole society.
Islam does not make exceptions for powerful people. Even if a ruler commits injustice, Muslims are encouraged to speak the truth before him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " إِنَّ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ الْجِهَادِ كَلِمَةَ عَدْلٍ عِنْدَ سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ ۔
(سنن ترمذی ، کتاب الفتن عن رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ، باب ما جاء أفضل الجهاد كلمة عدل عند سلطان جائر)
“The best form of jihad is speaking a word of justice before a tyrant ruler.”
This shows how strongly Islam emphasises building a clean and moral society. Sadly, in today’s world many wrong actions are openly practised, and people no longer even feel ashamed of them.
On another occasion the Prophet said that a person should never think himself too weak to speak the truth. On the Day of Judgement Allah will ask a person why he did not speak the truth when he had the chance, and fear of people will not be accepted as an excuse. (Sunan Ibn Majah)
The Companions of the Prophet also pledged that they would always speak the truth wherever they were and would not fear criticism for the sake of Allah.
(سنن ابن ماجہ ، کتاب الفتن ، باب الامر بالمعروف والنہی عن المنکر)
From all these teachings it becomes clear that speaking the truth and stopping evil is not only a moral duty but also a religious obligation.
When we look at modern society, we often see people supporting the powerful and suppressing the weak. This has become a common social attitude. However, the Islamic teaching regarding the removal of injustice and evil is clear and bright.
If we truly want peace and stability in society, we must follow the guidance of the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet.
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The author is an Islamic scholar, author, and a regular columnist at New Age Islam.
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