Ruling on maintaining family ties when they are involved in some prohibited matters
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Is it permissible for a Muslim, when visiting his relatives and kin, to sit in their gatherings that are full of prohibited matters, such as television and satellite channels, smoking, playing forbidden card games, shaving beards, letting garments hang below the ankles, backbiting, and lying, and so on? If he maintains ties with them, he is in the state you described, but if he leaves them, it is severing family ties. What should he do, knowing that he is aware there is no one else to take his place in advising and reminding them of Allah? Please inform us in light of this question. May Allah reward you with good.
As for participating with them in sin, it is not permissible; because a person cannot corrupt himself in order to reform others.And Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Nisa: 140] But it is known that they will not remain engrossed in these prohibited matters all the time. They will have free time, such as at dinner or lunch, when he can go to them and maintain ties with them.
Unless he comes to them while they are engaged in these prohibited matters for the sake of advice, in which case there is no harm in coming for the sake of advice and saying: Look at this and look at that,And as for your analogy with shaving the beard and letting garments hang below the ankles: Shaving the beard and letting garments hang below the ankles: if it is happening at the time of shaving, it is not permissible. But if he has already shaved and left, it is like the smell of smoke in the mouth of the smoker. Suppose a person smokes and you visit him after he has finished, and only the smell remains. Do we say: You are now participating in his sin? No.
This is the same thing regarding shaving the beard and letting the garment hang below the ankles. However, when the prohibited act is being performed, do not sit unless the intention is to give advice, in which case there is no harm.
The questioner: The entire gathering is always occupied with it.
The Shaykh: In any case, if it is not possible to find them except in this state of committing prohibited matters, do not visit them in person. Maintain ties with them by phone or by writing.
As for participating with them in sin, it is not permissible; because a person cannot corrupt himself in order to reform others.And 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
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّى يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِUnless he comes to them while they are engaged in these prohibited matters for the sake of advice, in which case there is no harm in coming for the sake of advice and saying: Look at this and look at that,And as for your analogy with shaving the beard and letting garments hang below the ankles: Shaving the beard and letting garments hang below the ankles: if it is happening at the time of shaving, it is not permissible. But if he has already shaved and left, it is like the smell of smoke in the mouth of the smoker. Suppose a person smokes and you visit him after he has finished, and only the smell remains. Do we say: You are now participating in his sin? No.
This is the same thing regarding shaving the beard and letting the garment hang below the ankles. However, when the prohibited act is being performed, do not sit unless the intention is to give advice, in which case there is no harm.
The questioner: The entire gathering is always occupied with it.
The Shaykh: In any case, if it is not possible to find them except in this state of committing prohibited matters, do not visit them in person. Maintain ties with them by phone or by writing.