The Hadith

Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah said:

“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand.

If he is not able, then with his tongue.

If he is not able, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.”  

Reference

Reported by Muslim.  

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Explanation (From Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan)

In this hadith the Prophet explained the obligation of forbidding evil according to a person’s ability.  

The Prophet said:

“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand.”

This refers to removing wrongdoing through direct action when a person has the authority or ability to do so.  

If a person cannot remove the evil through action, then he should change it with his tongue, meaning by advising or speaking against the wrongdoing.  

If he is unable to do that, then he should reject it in his heart, meaning that he dislikes the wrongdoing and does not approve of it.  

The Prophet then said that rejecting evil in the heart is the weakest level of faith, because it does not involve outward action.  

This hadith shows that forbidding evil is an important duty, but it must be done according to a person’s ability.  

References

The Explanation of Imam an-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith: Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan. Dar Makkah International.

Verified on 2026-10-21 against: The Explanation of Imam an-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith (Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan), Hadith 34.