Advice to the Youth Regarding Speaking About Rulers and Their Flaws
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Question:
Abu 'Abdullah says: What is your advice to the youth who occupy their gatherings with mentioning the rulers and their flaws, and speaking about their reputations?
Answer:
This is from the trials, this is from the trials and the discord that has occurred among people. There is absolutely no benefit in speaking about the rulers in gatherings, on the minbars, or in lectures. This does not bring about good; rather, it increases evil and causes trials among people. Yes, advising the rulers is obligatory. They must be advised about the errors that occur. They should be advised so that they can connect with them.
Whoever wants to advise them should contact them personally and speak to them face-to-face if he is able. He is required to do so. If he is not able, he should write them a private advice, a private letter that he writes and submits through the channels between him and them, so that it reaches them and they read it, and the conscience of this person is cleared. If he is not able to write to them, he should contact the scholars and the trusted aides of that ruler who have access to him, and instruct them to convey it to him or carry a message to him. That is, one of three things: if he can contact them personally, he contacts them; if he cannot contact them personally, he writes them a private letter that he does not publish among the people or photograph and distribute among the people, for that is a disgrace and not advice, and it is like speaking about them in gatherings. The third thing: if he cannot contact them personally or write to them, he connects with the scholars. He explains this matter to them, and the scholars contact the rulers and discuss it. The conscience of this Muslim who performed one of these actions is cleared, if Allah wills, and he is rewarded for it. As for publicizing it in gatherings, sermons, or lectures, this does not bring about good; rather, it increases evil and causes trials and enmity among people. Yes.
Abu 'Abdullah says: What is your advice to the youth who occupy their gatherings with mentioning the rulers and their flaws, and speaking about their reputations?
Answer:
This is from the trials, this is from the trials and the discord that has occurred among people. There is absolutely no benefit in speaking about the rulers in gatherings, on the minbars, or in lectures. This does not bring about good; rather, it increases evil and causes trials among people. Yes, advising the rulers is obligatory. They must be advised about the errors that occur. They should be advised so that they can connect with them.
Whoever wants to advise them should contact them personally and speak to them face-to-face if he is able. He is required to do so. If he is not able, he should write them a private advice, a private letter that he writes and submits through the channels between him and them, so that it reaches them and they read it, and the conscience of this person is cleared. If he is not able to write to them, he should contact the scholars and the trusted aides of that ruler who have access to him, and instruct them to convey it to him or carry a message to him. That is, one of three things: if he can contact them personally, he contacts them; if he cannot contact them personally, he writes them a private letter that he does not publish among the people or photograph and distribute among the people, for that is a disgrace and not advice, and it is like speaking about them in gatherings. The third thing: if he cannot contact them personally or write to them, he connects with the scholars. He explains this matter to them, and the scholars contact the rulers and discuss it. The conscience of this Muslim who performed one of these actions is cleared, if Allah wills, and he is rewarded for it. As for publicizing it in gatherings, sermons, or lectures, this does not bring about good; rather, it increases evil and causes trials and enmity among people. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، محاضرات في العقيدة والدعوة-01-الأعراض وحماية الإسلام لها\صالح الفوزان\كبار العلماء — youtube.com (55:19)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.