The obligation toward a neighbor who consumes intoxicants
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
Shaykh, regarding the neighbor, may Allah guide him and return him to the truth, if Allah wills. He consumes alcohol, intoxicants, and narcotics. Sometimes he gets drunk and behaves in a way that is shameful. So, what is the obligation toward this man? We mean, we do not associate with him, we do not speak to him, and we do not supplicate for his guidance, saying, "May Allah guide him, if Allah wills." But out of fear of harm to our children or, for example, our mahram relatives, we are afraid. One no longer feels safe leaving his house because of him, since he is a neighbor who owns the house, not a tenant, so we have to deal with him. And regarding the obligation, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed us regarding the neighbor. Does this include this neighbor?[Ash-Shuraa 42:13] The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The presenter:
Is there another question?
The questioner:
No, Shaykh.
The presenter:
O 'Abd al-Hadi, may Allah bless you. He says, may Allah protect you, regarding his neighbor that he has some errors and shortcomings and some matters that are detrimental, such as, meaning, drinking and other things like that. He says, may Allah bless you, we fear for our families and our households. He says: What is obligatory for us toward him in terms of advice and guidance, and also protecting him?
The Shaykh:
Two things are obligatory upon you. The first is to advise him, if advice is of benefit to him. The second is also to report him to the Committee for Promoting Virtue and Forbidding Vice if he does not accept the advice. Do not leave him as he is, for he will be lost and he will cause others to be lost, and he will affect his neighbors and their children. It is obligatory to take hold of his hand by whatever means is possible.
The presenter:
Yes, may Allah bless you.
Shaykh, regarding the neighbor, may Allah guide him and return him to the truth, if Allah wills. He consumes alcohol, intoxicants, and narcotics. Sometimes he gets drunk and behaves in a way that is shameful. So, what is the obligation toward this man? We mean, we do not associate with him, we do not speak to him, and we do not supplicate for his guidance, saying, "May Allah guide him, if Allah wills." But out of fear of harm to our children or, for example, our mahram relatives, we are afraid. One no longer feels safe leaving his house because of him, since he is a neighbor who owns the house, not a tenant, so we have to deal with him. And regarding the obligation, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed us regarding the neighbor. Does this include this neighbor?
what He enjoined
مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِThe presenter:
Is there another question?
The questioner:
No, Shaykh.
The presenter:
O 'Abd al-Hadi, may Allah bless you. He says, may Allah protect you, regarding his neighbor that he has some errors and shortcomings and some matters that are detrimental, such as, meaning, drinking and other things like that. He says, may Allah bless you, we fear for our families and our households. He says: What is obligatory for us toward him in terms of advice and guidance, and also protecting him?
The Shaykh:
Two things are obligatory upon you. The first is to advise him, if advice is of benefit to him. The second is also to report him to the Committee for Promoting Virtue and Forbidding Vice if he does not accept the advice. Do not leave him as he is, for he will be lost and he will cause others to be lost, and he will affect his neighbors and their children. It is obligatory to take hold of his hand by whatever means is possible.
The presenter:
Yes, may Allah bless you.
Source
فتاوى على الهواء 21-08-1438هـ — af.org.sa (36:02)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.