Islam in its invitation of people to this divine religion maintains logical principles. This divine religion does not intend to impose its beliefs on others. God Almighty teaches approaches to the Prophet of Islam, which shapes insightful views. One of the main approaches is promotion of virtues and prevention of vice.

One of the main missions of prophets has been determination and promotion of heavenly messages. In the 125^th ayah of Surat al-Nahl,
God tells the Prophet of Islam: “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice and dispute with them in a manner that is best.”

The content of this ayah of Holy Quran shows that the divine religion of Islam maintains logical principles and makes use of the best approaches in inviting others to this sacred religion.

The 108^th ayah of Surat Yusuf instructs the Prophet of Islam:  Say, ‘This is my way. I summon to Allah with insight – I and he who follows me.

Based on this viewpoint, Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny) used a number of approaches to enlighten the public opinion and to convey his message, and always intended to shape a major development in the Islamic Ummah and to revive the spirit of self-awareness and self-belief among them. This is because whoever maintains faith in God based on logic and insight, realizes his elevated status and his God-given honor; maintains self-esteem and doesn’t sacrifice his elevated human values for the sake of power and wealth; while also liberating oneself from the yoke of all worldly whims and dependencies.

One of the main accomplishments of the insightful approach of Prophet of Islam was the ideological and scientific growth of the Islamic Ummah; in the light of which great Islamic civilization took shape, and many scientists were groomed, who were innovative in all scientific scenes, turning East into the cradle of human civilization. Throughout the era of glittering Islamic civilization, Europe was dominated by the Church.

According to a senior expert, during this phase in time, five million people in Europe were hanged upon pope’s order. Only as of the year 1581 AD to 1599 AD, 10220 people were burnt alive due to disobedience from pope; 5686 people were mutilated, and 97023 people were tortured to death due to refusal to comply with the Church in Europe.

God Almighty in order to continue the growth of Islamic Ummah has presented a number of approaches in Holy Quran. The first topic is to prevent the Islamic Ummah from a possible downward spiral after the ideological, ethical, and social reforms which were carried out by the Prophet of Islam within the community of the Age of Ignorance, liberating them from polytheism and guiding them toward monotheistic beliefs. The best approach which  can secure this goal and revive a sense of responsibility in the community, is promotion of virtues and prevention of vice, which calls on all members of the community to invite others to virtues and ethical and human values, and urges everyone to practically abide by Islamic rules and regulations. Promotion of virtues and prevention of vice also prevents injustices; safeguards the cultural identity of Islamic Ummah; and prevents the infiltration of the culture of foreign powers.

The 157^th ayah of Surat al-A’raf notes: “Those who follow the Apostle, the uninstructed prophet, whose mention they find written with them in the Torah and the Evangel, who bids them to do what is right and forbids them from what is wrong, makes lawful to them all the good things and forbids them from all vicious things…”

Undoubtedly, those who consider themselves as the true followers of Prophet Mohammad should call for reinforcement and promotion of good deeds and avoid any anti-religious and anti-human deed.

The 110^th ayah of Surat al-I’Imran notes: You are the best nation ever brought forth for mankind: you bid what is right and forbid what is wrong, and have faith in Allah.

Holy Quran also notes that Islamic Ummah maintains common principles and there is an inseparable bond between their views and approaches.

The 71^st ayah of Surat Al-Tawbah notes: The faithful, men and women, are comrades of one another: they bid what is right and forbid what is wrong.

Undoubtedly, if ethical and human virtues are shaped in the community, the possibility for emergence of anti-values fades away. However, at times, as the consequence of negligence, indifference, and fading values, the stage is set for formation of anti-values, especially if no measure is taken against misdeeds.

Now, today, those who watch the heinous crimes committed by the US and Zionists; observe the massacre of the oppressed Yemeni nation; the murder of tens and hundreds of people in Syria, Palestine, Bahrain, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon and other Islamic countries, approving of these crimes with their muted reaction, are prime examples of incompetent and anti-religious individuals and are subject to God’s wrath.

In fact, in accordance to the spirit of promotion of virtues and prevention of vice we should maintain a sense of empathy  toward those who safeguard ethical and human virtues; and a sense of repulsion toward those who actively take part in, and support misdeeds and make efforts to boost Satanic powers.

29^th ayah of Surat al-Fath notes: “Muhammad, the Apostle of Allah, and those who are with him are hard against the faithless and merciful among themselves.”

Upon a glance at the cultural and social tradition of the Prophet of Islam, we realize that people maintain an especial and fateful role and status in the Islamic ruling system. The Prophet of Islam managed to overcome all hurdles and to establish a powerful Islamic ruling system in Medina, turning religious democracy into a successful role model for the international community, upon the relentless support of people within the era of advent of Islam, in addition to divine blessings and assistance for his righteous path. The Prophet of Islam, in order to show that the views of people maintain a major role in the management of Islamic ruling system, was instructed by God to consult with people in regard to his plans.

The 38^th ayah of Surat al-Shura notes: Those who answer their Lord, maintain the prayer, and their affairs are by counsel among themselves.

Hopefully, the Islamic awakening movement will pave the way for the rising influence of sacred religion of Islam, more than ever.

ME