One is Required to Reform Himself First

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

"O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves, [do righteous deeds, fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]. If you follow the right guidance and enjoin what is right (Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden) no hurt can come to you from those who are in error. The return of you all is to Allah, then He will inform you about (all) that which you used to do." (Qur'an 5 : 105)

Allah commands His believing servants to reform themselves and to do as many righteous deeds as possible. He also informs them that whoever reforms himself he would not be affected by the wickedness of the wicked, whether they were his relatives or otherwise.

What is stressed here is that rather than occupying himself unduly with examining faults in the belief and conduct of others, a man should pay greater attention to a critical examination of his own conduct. His primary concern should be with his own faith and conduct. If a man is himself obedient to Allah, observes his duties to Him and to His creatures including his duty to promote what is good and forbid what is evil, and lives according to the dictates of righteousness and honesty, he has fulfilled his obligation and if others persist either in false beliefs or in moral corruption their errors cannot harm him.

This verse in no way means that a man should care only for his own salvation and should remain unconcerned with the reform of others. Imam Ahmad recorded that Qays said, "Abu Bakr As-Siddiq stood up, thanked Allah and praised Him and then said, `O people! You recite this verse but interpret it erroneously' and he then went on to removed this misconception. In this sermon he remarked: 'I have heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) say that when people see corruption but do not try to change it; and when they see a wrong-doer commit wrong but do not prevent him from doing so, it is not unlikely that Allah's chastisement will seize them all. By Allah, it is incumbent upon you that you bid what is good and forbid what is evil or else Allah will grant domination upon you to those who are the worst among you. They will greatly chastise you and then when your righteous ones pray to God Almighty, their prayers will not be answered.' I (Qays) also heard Abu Bakr say, `O people! Beware of lying, for lying contradicts faith.'''