If it is testified that so-and-so is engaged in open sinfulness, gambling, dancing, lying, and the like, and he is growing his beard and shortening his garment

The questioner : If it is testified that so-and-so is an open sinner through gambling, dancing, and lying.

The Shaykh : How, how, what is it?

The questioner : It is testified that so-and-so—meaning a certain person—is an open sinner, a liar, and so on, and he is growing his beard and shortening his garment; is it permissible for us to tell him that the beard is forbidden for you?

The Shaykh : It is not permissible. Without a doubt, this type of person has mixed a good deed with an evil one, and perhaps Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will forgive it for him. Just as it is not permissible to beautify what is ugly, it is not permissible to disfigure what is good. Just as it is not permissible to command what is wrong, it is not permissible to forbid what is right. If a man has grown his beard, that is an obligatory duty he has fulfilled. However, from another angle, if he is lying or stealing or doing the like, this should not lead us to discourage him or turn him away from the good and righteous deeds he has. On the contrary, we must take advantage of his good deeds so that he increases in them and, by their means, ceases from the actions that contradict the Shari'ah.