The Best Way to Command Good and Forbid Evil

Question :

What are the different levels of commanding good and forbidding evil? Some people say that removing an evil can result in evil greater than the original evil. Should one give Da'wah in coffee shops and other similar places? What is the best way of ordering to good and forbidding from evil?

Answer:

The ruling for commanding good and forbidding evil was made clear by Allah Almighty in His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ. Allah said: "You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin all that is good and forbid all that is evil, and you believe in Allah."

"The believers, men and women, are Awliya' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin Al-Ma'ruf (i.e., Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid from Al-Munkar (i.e., polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they perform the prayer, and give the Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All- Wise."

The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever from you sees an evil, he should change it with his hand; if he is not able, then with his tongue; and if he is not able, then with his heart. And that is weakest of faith."

Verses and Hadiths on this topic are many. But it is obligatory, with all of this, to be gentle, and to use good manners, for Allah Almighty says:
"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better."

It is also obligatory that commanding good and forbidding evil be done with insight, into what is being ordered and prohibited, as Allâh Almighty said:

"Say (O Muhammad): "This is my way; I invite unto Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me. And Glorified and Exalted is Allah (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the idolators."

One must have patience, seeking the reward from Allâh, and doing the deed sincerely for Him alone. He must beware of showing off, or doing his work to be popular, or with some other objective that would nullify his sincerity. Just as Allâh Almighty said:
"And who is better in speech than he who invites to Allâh, and does righteous deeds, and says: 'I am one of the Muslims."

He also said:
"And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)".

In the following, Allah Almighty narrates the advice Luqman gave to his son:
"O my son! Perform the prayer, enjoin (people) for all that is good, and forbid (people) from all that is evil and bad, and bear with patience whatever befalls you. Verily! These are some of the important commandments ordered by Allah with no exemption."

I ask Allâh Almighty to benefit His servants through you, to grant you patience and sincerity, for He is Most Generous. As a Da'iyah, you should seek out those places where evil is perpetrated, so that you can guide the people there to Allâh and to the truth with a method that is gentle and wise. And in this regard, there is no difference between a coffee shop, the marketplace, or any other place where evil is perpetrated.