Begin with Yourself

Begin with Yourself 

Source : Transcribed from: Gems and Jewels | Compiled by: Abdul Malik M | DarusSalam

A man went to Ibn Abbas radiAllaahu anhu and said, "O Ibn Abbas, I want to enjoin people to do good and forbid them from doing evil." Ibn Abbas said, "And have you reached that level?" He said, "I hope that that is so." He said, "If you do not fear to be exposed by three verses of Allah’s Book, then do so." The man asked, "And what are they?" He mentioned this verse:

Enjoin you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and every act of obedience to Allah) on the people and you forget (to practise it) yourselves, while you recite the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah)]! Have you then no sense? (Baqarah 2:44)

And then asked, "Have you applied the implications of this verse?" He said, "No". Ibn Abbas then mentioned the second verse: 

O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do. (As-Saff 61:2-3) 

After that he asked, "Have you applied the implications of this verse?" He said, "No". He then mentioned the third verse regarding Shu’aib alayhi salaam: 

I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you. (Hud 11:88) 

And then he asked, "Have you applied the implications of this verse? He said, "No". Ibn Abbas said, "Then begin with yourself."

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"Preach to others by your deeds, not by your words."
al-Hasan al-Basri