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
ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِى ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلْكَـٰظِمِينَ ٱلْغَيْظَ وَٱلْعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
Who spend [in the cause of Allāh] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allāh loves the doers of good;
شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Allāh witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
وَلَا يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَن تَتَّخِذُوا۟ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ أَرْبَابًا ۗ أَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
Nor could he order you to take the angels and prophets as lords. Would he order you to disbelief after you had been Muslims?
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُۥ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُۥ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Allāh took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], "You must make it clear [i.e., explain it] to the people and not conceal it." But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased.