Combining the description of the strangers (ghuraba') as reformers and as those who flee with their religion
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This questioner says: How do you reconcile the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about the strangers who reform, or who reform when people become corrupt, with his statement about them being those who flee with their religion? The apparent meaning of reform is staying with people, which is the opposite of fleeing?
Answer:
Look, if their staying with people leads to reform, they stay. The one who mixes with people with the intention of reform and calling to Allah is doing something good. But the one who is unable to call to Allah, or who does not know how, or is ignorant, it is better for him to isolate himself. This falls under the issue of mixing versus isolation: which is better? Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
This questioner says: How do you reconcile the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about the strangers who reform, or who reform when people become corrupt, with his statement about them being those who flee with their religion? The apparent meaning of reform is staying with people, which is the opposite of fleeing?
Answer:
Look, if their staying with people leads to reform, they stay. The one who mixes with people with the intention of reform and calling to Allah is doing something good. But the one who is unable to call to Allah, or who does not know how, or is ignorant, it is better for him to isolate himself. This falls under the issue of mixing versus isolation: which is better? Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
شرح أحاديث في الفتن والحوادث، باب التغرب في الفتنة — islamhouse.com (1:16:57)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.