Allah (swt) states in the Qur’an,

“Let there arise from amongst you a group that calls to the Khayr (Islam), Enjoins that which is Ma’roof (right) and forbids that which is Munkar (wrong), and they are the ones who have attained Success”. (TMQ al-e-Imran, verse 104)

Allah (swt) calls for there to arise from amongst the Ummah (minkum) another Ummah i.e. another band of people like the Ummah but within the Ummah as it is a partative expression (Tabaeed) which indicates a block or section of the Ummah. It identifies the qualities of this block as being bound like the Ummah is bound but upon the forbidding of the Munkar and the enjoining of Ma’roof and the calling to the Khayr i.e. the whole of Islam.

Similarly any Jama’ah (group) would require an Amir as the Prophet (saw) stated in one Hadith, “If there are three of you in any part of the world appoint one of you an Amir”. Hence, this group would need to have a structure so that it can actually exist, as well as an understanding of Ma’roof and Munkar.

However, the establishment and maintenance of the Ma’roof and the Munkar can only be practically carried out through the State and it is impossible to do otherwise. Imam Qurtubi in his Tafseer has pointed out that only the Sultan has the ability of executing the Ma’roof and removing the Munkar by establishing the Hudood and through the framework of authority (Imam Qurtubi Jami’u Ahkam ul Qur’an vol. 4 page 47). This is because Allah (swt) states,