Ruling on reporting a negligent employee after advising him
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His Eminence the Shaykh: This issue has caused us significant difficulty, so we hope for a comprehensive explanation due to the urgent need for it: We work in a place where wrongdoings are prevalent. The responsible party is admonished through wise, Sharia-compliant means, such as written correspondence, phone calls, and other methods of reporting. However, the wrongdoings continue, and the one performing the admonition is not rushing for results. But there is a difficulty regarding the clearing of one's conscience regarding the limit of reporting;So some people said: Is it sufficient for us to report these wrongdoings to the immediate supervisor, even if he neglects the general circular issued regarding them, although we believe that the supervisor does not care and that the Imam is unaware of this and does not approve of it?
And a group said: No, the conscience is not cleared, and it is necessary to write to the Imam; because our certainty that the immediate supervisor does not care about implementing the circular and that the Imam is unaware is a deception in the advice that brings us sin because of it. So where is the correct path? May Allah forgive you and your parents?
This is an important question, as the questioner said: The issue is that some supervisors in certain sectors do not care about either Sharia matters or regulatory matters. They are negligent and unfit for work in this place, neither in terms of regulation nor religion. Some of the people under their authority, who are people of goodness, righteousness, and enjoining good and forbidding evil, advise them, but they persist in what they are doing. Does the conscience become clear by advising them, or is it necessary to raise the matter to those above them so that they may correct or replace them?I say in my answer to this: The matter must be raised to those above them. It is obligatory, an obligation, to raise the matter to those above them. And remaining silent about this is deception; deception toward the rulers, deception toward the work, and injustice even to this negligent supervisor; because if you raise the matter to those above them and the intended outcome and rectification are achieved, you have removed from this immediate supervisor of yours the sin of negligence and failing to perform the obligatory duty.Meaning: That you advised him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Help your brother whether he is oppressor or oppressed."They said: O Messenger of Allah, how do we help the oppressor?He said: "By preventing him from oppression." So it is obligatory for every person who has an immediate supervisor who is wasting the trust in religion or in the system to advise him with all the advice he can. If the desired outcome is achieved, that is what is required. If it is not achieved, it is obligatory for him to raise it to those above him so that they may replace or correct him. As for remaining silent about the error, that is an error.
He might say: I fear that this person will dominate me and the intended outcome will not be achieved.We say: This is possible. It may be that the intended outcome is not achieved, and the person above him is also not caring. But if you suffer harm in this, it is for the sake of Allah. You will have reward in it, and a good reputation in your life and after your death. And be patient with what befalls you.As Luqman said to his son: [Luqman: 17] As for a person who does what Allah has commanded in the manner that Allah Mighty and Majestic approves of, then the outcome will be for him. Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him): [Hud: 49] ,And Allah the Exalted said: [Ta-Ha: 132] But it is upon us to have complete faith in this, and to know that the outcome is for us whenever we fear Allah.
And the outcome does not have to be quick, so it does not have to be immediate. It may be delayed as a trial and test, and it may not be achieved except in the Hereafter as well, so that it may be more reward and recompense.
And a group said: No, the conscience is not cleared, and it is necessary to write to the Imam; because our certainty that the immediate supervisor does not care about implementing the circular and that the Imam is unaware is a deception in the advice that brings us sin because of it. So where is the correct path? May Allah forgive you and your parents?
This is an important question, as the questioner said: The issue is that some supervisors in certain sectors do not care about either Sharia matters or regulatory matters. They are negligent and unfit for work in this place, neither in terms of regulation nor religion. Some of the people under their authority, who are people of goodness, righteousness, and enjoining good and forbidding evil, advise them, but they persist in what they are doing. Does the conscience become clear by advising them, or is it necessary to raise the matter to those above them so that they may correct or replace them?I say in my answer to this: The matter must be raised to those above them. It is obligatory, an obligation, to raise the matter to those above them. And remaining silent about this is deception; deception toward the rulers, deception toward the work, and injustice even to this negligent supervisor; because if you raise the matter to those above them and the intended outcome and rectification are achieved, you have removed from this immediate supervisor of yours the sin of negligence and failing to perform the obligatory duty.Meaning: That you advised him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Help your brother whether he is oppressor or oppressed."They said: O Messenger of Allah, how do we help the oppressor?He said: "By preventing him from oppression." So it is obligatory for every person who has an immediate supervisor who is wasting the trust in religion or in the system to advise him with all the advice he can. If the desired outcome is achieved, that is what is required. If it is not achieved, it is obligatory for him to raise it to those above him so that they may replace or correct him. As for remaining silent about the error, that is an error.
He might say: I fear that this person will dominate me and the intended outcome will not be achieved.We say: This is possible. It may be that the intended outcome is not achieved, and the person above him is also not caring. But if you suffer harm in this, it is for the sake of Allah. You will have reward in it, and a good reputation in your life and after your death. And be patient with what befalls you.As Luqman said to his son:
O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you
يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَكَThat is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. You knew it not, neither you nor your people, before this. So be patient; indeed, the [best] outcome is for the righteous.
تِلْكَ مِنْ أَنْبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهَا إِلَيْكَ مَا كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُهَا أَنْتَ وَلا قَوْمُكَ مِنْ قَبْلِ هَذَا فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ الْعَاقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَWe ask you not for provision; We provide for you, and the [best] outcome is for [those of] righteousness.
لا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقاً نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىAnd the outcome does not have to be quick, so it does not have to be immediate. It may be delayed as a trial and test, and it may not be achieved except in the Hereafter as well, so that it may be more reward and recompense.