The Ruling on Remaining Silent About Evil Out of Social Consideration
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Is remaining silent about evil out of social consideration a sin?
Remaining silent about evil out of social consideration is forbidden, and whoever sits with one who commits evil is like him;For Allah the Exalted said: [al-Nisa: 140].
As for one who remains silent about evil out of sympathy, meaning: that he waits for the appropriate opportunity to rebuke it, there is no harm in that; because this is a matter of treatment, like a patient enduring the bitterness of medicine. So if you see a person—for example—who has status in society and is of high rank and honor, and you see him committing an evil, then there is no doubt that it is not desirable for you to stand up before people and say: “O so-and-so! You are committing an evil, you are letting your garment hang below your ankles, you are shaving your beard, or something similar”; because he considers himself in a higher position than you, so it will only increase his aversion, and perhaps if he is able to harm you, he will harm you. But it is obligatory for you to keep this slip of his in mind and retain it, so when you are alone with him in a place, remind him of it. If it is not possible for you to be alone with him in any place, write to him. If that is not possible, you know that every person must have a companion and a friend; contact his companions and friends who will convey to him what you say and deliver it to him.
Remaining silent about evil out of social consideration is forbidden, and whoever sits with one who commits evil is like him;For Allah the Exalted said:
And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together -
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّى يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ إِنَّكُمْ إِذاً مِثْلُهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَامِعُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَالْكَافِرِينَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ جَمِيعاًAs for one who remains silent about evil out of sympathy, meaning: that he waits for the appropriate opportunity to rebuke it, there is no harm in that; because this is a matter of treatment, like a patient enduring the bitterness of medicine. So if you see a person—for example—who has status in society and is of high rank and honor, and you see him committing an evil, then there is no doubt that it is not desirable for you to stand up before people and say: “O so-and-so! You are committing an evil, you are letting your garment hang below your ankles, you are shaving your beard, or something similar”; because he considers himself in a higher position than you, so it will only increase his aversion, and perhaps if he is able to harm you, he will harm you. But it is obligatory for you to keep this slip of his in mind and retain it, so when you are alone with him in a place, remind him of it. If it is not possible for you to be alone with him in any place, write to him. If that is not possible, you know that every person must have a companion and a friend; contact his companions and friends who will convey to him what you say and deliver it to him.