The Holy Quran 5:79 — Surah Al-Ma'idah

Arabic text

كَانُوا۟ لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ

Translation

(Among the reasons for which they were cursed was that) They would never prevent each other (did not abstain) from the evil that they used to carry out. Evil indeed was that which they did (not preventing each other from sinful acts). (Failing to stop evil when able to do so is a major sin.)

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

Not forbidding evil is a grave crime: the words لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ can have two meanings: (1) “they did not refrain”, as in Ruh al-Ma'ani; (2) “they did not restrain one another”, as is well known. When evil spreads in a people and there is no one to restrain and rebuke, there is the danger of a general punishment.

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