36/21. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4017 — Questioned for Not Denouncing Evil
The words of Allah: "O you who believe! Take care of your own selves."
Hadith About Denouncing Evil and Fear of People
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4017
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4017
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبُو طُوَالَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا نَهَارٌ الْعَبْدِيُّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيَسْأَلُ الْعَبْدَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى يَقُولَ مَا مَنَعَكَ إِذْ رَأَيْتَ الْمُنْكَرَ أَنْ تُنْكِرَهُ فَإِذَا لَقَّنَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا حُجَّتَهُ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ رَجَوْتُكَ وَفَرِقْتُ مِنَ النَّاسِ " .
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri Narrated from:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘Allah will question His slave on the Day of Resurrection, until He says: “What kept you from denouncing evil when you saw it?” When Allah grants His slave a response, he will say: “O Lord, I hoped for Your mercy but I feared the people.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4017In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 92English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4017
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4017
This Hadith about denouncing evil reminds the believer of the Day of Resurrection. Abu Sa’eed narrated that Allah will question His slave until He asks what kept him from denouncing evil when he saw it. When Allah grants the slave a response, he will say that he hoped for Allah’s mercy but feared people. The narration brings together hope, fear, and responsibility. It does not tell us to speak in every matter without wisdom. It does warn that fear of people can stop a person from doing what he knows is right. The main lesson is to remember Allah when deciding whether to speak against a wrong.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person may be questioned for not denouncing evil that he saw.
- Fear of people is shown as a reason that can hold someone back.
- The slave mentions hope in Allah’s mercy in the response given in the text.
- Seeing wrong brings a responsibility that should not be ignored lightly.
