A man went to Ibn ‘Abbas radiAllaahu ‘anhu and said, “O Ibn ‘Abbas, I want to enjoin people to do good and forbid them from doing evil.” Ibn ‘Abbas said, “And have you reached that level?” He said, “I hope that that is so.” He said, “If you do not fear to be exposed by three verses of Allah’s Book, then do so.” The man asked, “And what are they?” He mentioned this verse:
Enjoin you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience to Allâh) on the people and you forget (to practise it) yourselves.” (Baqarah 2:44)
And then asked, “Have you applied the implications of this verse?” He said, “No.” Ibn ‘Abbas then mentioned the second verse:
O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do. (As-Saff 61:2-3)
After that he asked, “Have you applied the implications of this verse?” He said, “No.” He then mentioned the third verse regarding Shu’aib alayhi salaam:
“I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you.” (Hud 11:88)
And then he asked, “Have you applied the implications of this verse? He said, “No.” Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Then begin with yourself.”
- Transcribed from: Gems and Jewels | Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid | DarusSalam
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu,
MashAllah, this is definitely one of the best and most useful Islamic blogs available; please keep your very educational posts coming. May Allah s.w.t. reward you and guide us all to that which is best for us, ameen.
Wassalaam.
Wa Alaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakatu
Ameen. BarakAllaahu feeki akhee.
Wa Salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakatu
Dawah to Yourself
As Salaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh,
Mashaa’Allah ! JazakAllahu Khair
Wa Alaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakatu
Wa iyaaki ukhtee.
Something about this narration does not sound right. Do you have an orginal reference for this qoute?
Rather, there’s simply a list of general references at the end of the book from which the quotes in the book were derived. As for this particular quote, unfortunately the exact reference isn’t listed.
JazakAllaahu khayr for your query however. InshaAllaah if I come across this quote elsewhere and it lists the original reference, I’ll definitely provide it.
Wa Salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakatu