وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ 104
Translations
And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.
Transliteration
Wa altakun minkum ummun yad'una ila al-khayri wa ya'muruna bi al-ma'rufi wa yanhawna 'an al-munkari wa ulá'ika hum al-muflihun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the obligation for the Muslim community to have among its members a group dedicated to calling people to goodness, commanding what is right (ma'ruf), and forbidding what is wrong (munkar). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this refers to the institution of da'wah and commanding good and forbidding evil (al-amr bi al-ma'ruf wa al-nahi 'an al-munkari), which are essential communal obligations (fard kifayah). The ayah concludes that those who fulfill this duty are the truly successful ones in both this life and the hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period and appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of the Muslim community's role and responsibilities. It comes after verses discussing the believers' characteristics and serves to define the collective mission of the ummah to be a witness to humanity, establishing the framework for Islamic social and moral reform.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever among you sees an evil act, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith' (Sahih Muslim 49). Additionally, 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027) relates to the concept of calling to goodness.
Themes
Key Lesson
Every Muslim community should cultivate individuals dedicated to promoting goodness and righteousness, recognizing that this is not merely individual piety but a collective social responsibility. True success (falah) in Islam is measured not only by personal righteousness but by active contribution to the moral elevation of society.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمُ ۗ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allāh is Islām. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allāh, then indeed, Allāh is swift in [taking] account.
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ نَصِيبًا مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَىٰ كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّىٰ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ وَهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
Do you not consider, [O Muḥammad], those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They are invited to the Scripture of Allāh that it should arbitrate between them; then a party of them turns away, and they are refusing.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allāh and kill the prophets without right and kill those who order justice from among the people - give them tidings of a painful punishment.
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن نَّبِىٍّ قَـٰتَلَ مَعَهُۥ رِبِّيُّونَ كَثِيرٌ فَمَا وَهَنُوا۟ لِمَآ أَصَابَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا ضَعُفُوا۟ وَمَا ٱسْتَكَانُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And how many a prophet [fought in battle and] with him fought many religious scholars. But they never lost assurance due to what afflicted them in the cause of Allāh, nor did they weaken or submit. And Allāh loves the steadfast.