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Evil in every society is a fact of life. We have to resist it.

Evil in every society is a fact of life. We have to resist it.
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August 23, 2024
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وَكَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ جَعَلۡنَا فِی كُلِّ قَرۡیَةٍ أَكَـٰبِرَ مُجۡرِمِیهَا لِیَمۡكُرُوا۟ فِیهَاۖ وَمَا یَمۡكُرُونَ إِلَّا بِأَنفُسِهِمۡ وَمَا یَشۡعُرُونَ

And so We have placed in every society the most wicked to plot in it. Yet they plot only against themselves, but they fail to perceive it. [Al-Anʿām, 6:123]

ٱسۡتِكۡبَارࣰا فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَكۡرَ ٱلسَّیِّىِٕۚ وَلَا یَحِیقُ ٱلۡمَكۡرُ ٱلسَّیِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهۡلِهِۦۚ فَهَلۡ یَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَۚ فَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَبۡدِیلࣰاۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَحۡوِیلًا

because of their showing arrogance in the land and plotting of evil. And the evil plot engulfs none but its own people (who make it). So, they are looking for nothing but the (divine) practice with the earlier people. So you will never find in Allah’s practice any change, and you will never find in Allah’s practice any diversion. [Fāṭir, 35:43]

وَٱلَّذِینَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔایَـٰتِنَا سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَیۡثُ لَا یَعۡلَمُونَ

As for those who reject Our signs, We will lead them gradually (towards their punishment) in such a way that they do not realise it. [Al-Aʿrāf, 7:182]

Evil people are a reality in every society

When Allah Almighty states that He has placed evil people in every society, it highlights a timeless reality: the ongoing battle between truth and falsehood, wickedness and goodness. The divine system Allah created grants us the freedom of choice. He sent messengers and prophets to clarify the paths of goodness and evil, leaving us to choose our destiny — whether it be towards hell or paradise.

Within this system, both wicked and righteous people exist. This is true even within our own families. So, what should we do? Allah is teaching us how the world operates and the consequences of the choices people make.

The most wicked individuals, known as “akabiral mujrimeen,” are the leaders of criminals and thugs. They plot, scheme, and craft their wicked plans to corrupt mainstream society. This pattern has existed throughout history, affecting all prophets and messengers, up to and including Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). These individuals are cunning, deceitful, and spread misinformation.

Evil plots are bound to fail in the end

The Quran addresses our society, acknowledging that there are evil people among us, but they are not the majority, and they will not prevail. We know this from the ayah, as Allah says they plot only against their own selves, even though they are unaware of it. The verse ends with “wa ma yashurun,” meaning they cannot perceive it. Their hearts and minds have become so corrupted and devoid of conscience that they are numb to the evil as the one who has had an anesthetic injection at the dentist. Their numbness could be the result of brainwashing or misrepresentation of the truth – it is the poison that is coursing through their veins that has made them so desensitised to evil.

Commentators on this verse suggest that the masses often follow their leaders without questioning, much like we see in modern times with certain leaders of the Far Right. These leaders are not the most intelligent, nor are they bothered to double check whether the information they act on is real or fake. In some cases, such as in the US, this misinformation is fuelled by hatred.

When emotions override reason, people fail to realise they are heading in the wrong direction. However, the leaders, like Firaun, often know exactly what they are doing. Yet, their followers go along with the tide. Is this an excuse? No. When Allah punished Firaun, He punished his followers as well, because they failed to seek the truth and blindly followed him. This is how tyrants operate.

A similar situation is evident in Palestine today. The most wicked individuals are leading negotiations, playing with people’s lives as if it were a game of chess. Every second brings more casualties and martyrs— men, women, children, the elderly and the young. These wicked individuals are plotting, but ultimately, they are plotting against themselves. No matter how long it takes, their schemes will backfire, as this is the system Allah created. As He states in Surat Fatir, “Bad plots only engulf those who created them.”

Their plots will indeed rebound upon them. Allah will gradually bring them to their punishment without them even noticing. This is known as “istidraj.” When people are consumed by their own hatred, they fall into the very trap they dug for others. Allah’s system never fails, and history shows that those who plotted against the truth were ultimately destroyed by their own hands.

What, then, is our mission? First, we must be aware of all the plots around us. Second, we must do our utmost to defend our positions and rights through legitimate means. Third, we must unite against evil and misinformation. No one has the right to interpret our religion but us. We represent ourselves. No one else has the right to speak for us. Every single one of us has to reflect in our words and actions, the best character, as did our Prophet (peace be upon him). The more we are in line with prophetic guidance, the more we send the best message ever revealed to mankind to our community.

We must keep praying for and supporting our brothers and sisters in Palestine and we ask Allah to grant them relief from their suffering sooner rather than later. Ameen.

Based on the Khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim 23rd Aug 2024

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Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.

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