The Criterion for Concealing the Sins of Those Who Commit Immoral Acts
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Some people may see others committing a sin, such as sodomy or unlawful sexual intercourse—may Allah protect us from that—and then they talk about it days later.And he says: I saw some people, but I will not tell you who they are. I want to cover for them, and covering is good, so I do not know if this counts as covering? And what is the nature of covering?For example: If one finds such people, what should be done with them?
It is obligatory for one who sees a person committing a grave sin or other sins to first advise him. If he repents, that is what is desired. If he does not repent, it is obligatory to report the matter to the one in authority.
It is not permissible at all to tell people about the sins one has seen, because if one does that, this sin becomes trivial in the hearts of people. Then people who hear this imagine that the entire society is like this, and this is wrong. The society, praise be to Allah, has good in it and evil in it, but the good in most of our lands—praise be to Allah—is greater than the evil, without doubt. So, for a person to talk about the sins, open sinfulness, and lewdness he sees in societies, I see that this is wrong. A person should first address the problem with the one committing the sin. If he can address it himself, he is the most qualified to do so. And a person’s conviction based on what he learns from the Shari'ah is better than his being deterred by what comes from the ruler, because he leaves the sin out of conviction and repents to Allah with a true repentance. If this is not possible, the matter is raised to the one in authority, and thereby the conscience is cleared.
As for some people who, when they see something, go and talk about it, and perhaps they make the mud stickier by describing the matter as worse than what they saw, this is a mistake, and we do not like this.
As for covering: If a person is unable to advise the one he saw committing a sin,This is looked at: If the person is known for evil and corruption, it is not permissible to cover for him; rather, his matter is made clear to the one in authority. But if he is unknown in his status, or known for uprightness but his soul incited him to do what he did, then covering for him is better.
It is obligatory for one who sees a person committing a grave sin or other sins to first advise him. If he repents, that is what is desired. If he does not repent, it is obligatory to report the matter to the one in authority.
It is not permissible at all to tell people about the sins one has seen, because if one does that, this sin becomes trivial in the hearts of people. Then people who hear this imagine that the entire society is like this, and this is wrong. The society, praise be to Allah, has good in it and evil in it, but the good in most of our lands—praise be to Allah—is greater than the evil, without doubt. So, for a person to talk about the sins, open sinfulness, and lewdness he sees in societies, I see that this is wrong. A person should first address the problem with the one committing the sin. If he can address it himself, he is the most qualified to do so. And a person’s conviction based on what he learns from the Shari'ah is better than his being deterred by what comes from the ruler, because he leaves the sin out of conviction and repents to Allah with a true repentance. If this is not possible, the matter is raised to the one in authority, and thereby the conscience is cleared.
As for some people who, when they see something, go and talk about it, and perhaps they make the mud stickier by describing the matter as worse than what they saw, this is a mistake, and we do not like this.
As for covering: If a person is unable to advise the one he saw committing a sin,This is looked at: If the person is known for evil and corruption, it is not permissible to cover for him; rather, his matter is made clear to the one in authority. But if he is unknown in his status, or known for uprightness but his soul incited him to do what he did, then covering for him is better.