What is the criterion for public benefit and harm?

The questioner : Yes. Shaykh Hamid al-Qat'i, the criterion for public benefit and harm is this. Yes. Absolutely, this is it.

The Shaykh : No, a person knows them by reality.

The questioner : Well, if you look at our country, I mean, the example makes the statement clear. Now, let me give a quick example, I swear to Allah.

The Shaykh : I do not want to represent my country.

The questioner : Leave it.

The Shaykh : Leave us, leave your country and the second and third countries.

The questioner : What do you mean by "give an example"? Do I say it directly?

The Shaykh : Yes, yes, skip this example.

The questioner : Well, I want to say, Shaykh, I mean, if...

The Shaykh : Public benefit and harm are determined by the result. A person looks at the result; it is the result that weighs things. It is not that it removes evil, or else I might say this is a benefit, and another says it is not a benefit, until a dispute arises. There is no problem, especially if a person is committed to Allah with this matter and is determined to do it and has no doubt about it. He will say, "I am a reformer," but look at the result. Bring up any revolution; did the people become better off than before? Can you?
You absolutely cannot. So look at the benefits and harms. The Muslim community, before they differed, was awe-inspiring; people feared them from every direction, and they were supported by terror for a month's journey. When they split, some of them began killing others, meaning they occupied themselves with killing one another instead of fighting the disbelievers. So, I do not claim to be the judge of benefits or harms; I say, look at reality. Yes.