1 Forgotten Duty Every Muslim Must Revive Before It’s Too Late

Introduction: What Every Muslim Has Forgotten Today

Today, I want to talk about something that is extremely important, something deeply worthy of reflection—yet it’s something that Muslims have forgotten. It’s something we’ve left behind, even though it is absolutely essential, especially for Muslims living in today’s world.

This forgotten thing is not optional—it’s the minimum requirement for someone who calls themselves a Muslim.

Why? Because in the Qur’an, Allah clearly says:

“You are the best nation brought forth for mankind. You enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil.” (Surah Aal-e-Imran)

In another place, Allah says:

“Let there arise from among you a group who invite to goodness, enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong. And it is they who will be successful.”

And in a hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“If you see an evil, stop it with your hand. If you cannot, then stop it with your tongue. And if you cannot do that, then at least consider it wrong in your heart—and that is the weakest level of faith.”

Why the Muslim Ummah Is Weak: The Neglected Command from Allah

Today, I want to speak about this very topic—about forbidding what is wrong.

Because if you look around, you’ll see we have no shortage of people who give advice about doing good. Every other person is ready to tell you, “Brother, offer your prayers. Sister, wear hijab. Be kind. Be patient.” That’s beautiful, and we need that.

But here’s the problem: no one has the courage to stop the bad.

Everyone is ready to give you sweet, polite advice, but when it comes to standing up and saying, “This is wrong, stop it,” very few have the strength. And that’s where the decay begins.

The Muslim’s Real Test: Enjoining Good vs. Stopping Evil

Let me now talk about Gaza, which is going through an unimaginable crisis right now.

Everyone is talking about it. Everyone says Gaza is in trouble. Palestine is suffering. But when I ask people, “So what are you doing about it?”—they respond, “We can only make dua. We’re helpless.”

And that’s where my heart aches.

Why have Muslims become so weak that they now think their only power lies in words whispered in prayer? Why are we content with doing the bare minimum—just making dua—when evil is right in front of us?

A Real Story That Exposes the Muslim’s Daily Dilemma

Let me tell you a story I heard—a true incident that shook me.

There was a young man who had a university exam. He was heading to campus to give his paper. On the way, two cars collided right in front of him. One was a luxury car, driven by a man. The other was a modest vehicle, driven by a woman.

As soon as they collided, the woman’s head slammed into the steering wheel, and blood started pouring from her forehead. She was seriously injured.

The accident was clearly the man’s fault. But instead of being remorseful, he stepped out of his fancy car, angry and aggressive. He began shouting and hurling abuse at the injured woman—right there on the road.

The young man stood at a distance, watching all of this. His mind was racing: “I can see who’s at fault. I can see that this woman is hurt. Should I take her to the hospital? Should I step in and stop this man from shouting at her?”

But then he remembered—his exam. He was already short on time. He looked around; plenty of people were watching, but no one had the courage to speak up. Everyone was scared—perhaps of the man’s wealth, or his attitude, or just the hassle of getting involved.

So the boy said to himself, “If I didn’t have my exam, I would definitely help her.” And then he left. He gave his paper.

The Muslim’s Selective Sympathy: Why We Only Act for Our Own

That night, he couldn’t sleep. His heart was uneasy. The whole scene kept replaying in his head. Finally, he called his teacher and explained the situation.

“Sir, I don’t know why I’m so restless,” he said. “Did I do something wrong?”

The teacher sighed and said, “Yes, son. You were wrong. Think about it—if that woman had been your own sister, what would you have done? Would your exam still have been more important? Or would you have stopped that man and taken your sister to the hospital?”

That question hit the boy hard.

And it should hit us too.

Because that night, lying injured on the road, that woman was someone’s sister, someone’s daughter. But we live in a time where we only feel moved when it happens to our own family.

Today’s Muslims have become like this—we only protect what is ours. We only fight for what directly impacts us. But Islam does not teach selfishness. Islam teaches selflessness.Until we start caring for others like we care for our own, we might be Muslim by name, but we won’t be true believers (Mumin) in the eyes of Allah.

How a Muslim Must Stand Against Injustice — Starting at Home

Ask yourself honestly—if your own sister was lying there, would you have only made dua for her? Or would you have jumped into action, regardless of the consequences?

That’s what I’m trying to say here—if we cannot stop the small evils happening around us, how do we expect to stop the great evils being done in places like Palestine?

Have you ever told a friend to stop oppressing someone? Have you ever told a relative to stop using foul language? Have you ever shut down music at a gathering because it was inappropriate? Have you ever stopped a sin—or have you simply joined in because you didn’t want to be the “weird” one?

Sadly, in our communities today, when someone plays music, others not only listen—they join in. When there’s a party or a dance, even so-called Muslim men start dancing like it’s nothing. We’re not just ignoring evil—we’re promoting it.

And then we say we can’t help Palestine? How can we?

We haven’t even cleaned our own homes.

We’re failing at the very first level of our responsibility: to stop the evil that is within our reach. To use our hands, our tongues, and if nothing else, our hearts.

When Every Muslim Fights Evil Locally, the Ummah Changes Globally

Remember, if you can’t reach Gaza physically, that’s okay. Most of us can’t. And even if you could, maybe you don’t have the power or weapons to fight back.

But you do have power over your immediate surroundings.

You do have a voice in your family, your friends, your neighborhood.

You can speak against injustice, you can change the culture of sin that we’ve normalized. That’s where it starts. That’s where your responsibility lies.

If we start purifying our homes, our gatherings, our online platforms—Palestine will feel it. Because a sincere ummah creates ripples across the world. Allah sees those who stand for truth. And Allah blesses those who fight evil in whatever way they can.

So don’t underestimate yourself. Don’t belittle your small efforts. But also—don’t sit quietly and call that enough.

Conclusion: A Muslim’s First Khilafah Is Over Himself

Start today. In your own house, establish Khilafah on your own self. Be the ruler over your own soul. Govern your tongue. Rule your eyes. Lead your home. This effort isn’t just about personal growth; it also strengthens our collective responsibility as an Ummah. For inspiration, you can reflect on this insightful series by Yaqeen Institute, which beautifully explores how Allah turns sins into good deeds—reminding us of the power of sincere repentance and positive change. Watch here.

If we all take this seriously, if we all take this to heart—then one day, inshaAllah, we will reach Palestine not just with our duas, but with our actions.

Let’s begin by forbidding evil wherever we can—starting from our own doorstep. Remember, it’s through the small, conscious efforts we make to purify our hearts and actions that we pave the way for greater changes. You can start with the timeless principles of Surah Al-Ikhlas, which hold deep lessons for strengthening our belief in Allah. Read more here.