The Difference Between Boycotting and Sitting with a Person Who Commits Sin

The questioner : This situation happened to me with one of the brothers. I boycotted him for a period, but he did not stop his sin, so I returned to him and began greeting him. However, I started advising him, and the advice did not help. Then I boycotted him again during this period. He smiles in his face and greets him, but the boycott did not help in this case. Sitting with him causes me harm by diminishing my faith, and I have not found that he helps me in obedience.

The Shaykh : No, do not sit with him in sin. I am not saying sit with him while he smokes; do not sit with him. But if you meet him, greet him, and advise him a thousand times after a thousand times. Do not overdo it with him, lest he becomes annoyed and never accepts.

The questioner : Why, Shaykh?

The Shaykh : The meaning of his saying "boycott or do not boycott" is "sit with him or do not sit with him." No, regarding sitting: do not sit with the one who commits sin.

The questioner : The previous sitting.

The Shaykh : No, do not sit with him while he is in his sin.

The questioner : No.

The Shaykh : Especially if you do not hope that he will leave it.

The questioner : He does not commit sin; sitting with him in the way of Allah does not benefit you in obedience; he does not hold back.

The Shaykh : If you boycotted him, would he benefit more?

The questioner : This did not help, no.

The Shaykh : But you are safe from him. If he dies, greet him, and that is sufficient. It is not necessary for you to stay with him, sit with him, or stand with him; it is not necessary.

The questioner : Consider, O Shaykh, that he is a bad companion. So, do I sit with him in this case?

The Shaykh : No, no, no.

The questioner : The previous one.

The Shaykh : No, do not sit with him, but do not boycott him. It seems the difference between boycotting and sitting has become confused for you. No, you must know the difference. Boycotting means if you pass by him, you do not greet him, and if he greets you, you do not respond.

The questioner : No, it is not bothering me.

The Shaykh : Yes, Hamad, I did not boycott him.