How to Deal with the People of Misguided Sects
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How should one deal with the people of misguided sects and groups, and their individuals?
In terms of greeting, or in terms of buying and selling?The questioner: In terms of greeting.
The Shaykh: In terms of greeting, one should greet every person except the disbeliever, for one should not initiate the greeting to him. However, if he greets you, you must return the greeting; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to return the greeting to the People of the Book, the Jews and the Christians. As for if there is a benefit in boycotting him, such as an open sinner who, if we boycott him, will desist from his sin and repent to Allah, then here we boycott him; because there is a benefit in that. Just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) commanded the boycotting of Ka'b ibn Malik, Hilal ibn Umayyah, and Murarah ibn al-Rabi' when they lagged behind the expedition to Tabuk, but there was a benefit in boycotting them. However, if our boycotting this open sinner causes harm, such as if our boycotting him causes him to persist in his sin, and to hate us, and not to accept from us any reproof or correction, then here boycotting is not permissible; because this open sinner, however great his open sinfulness, is a believer.And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (It is not permissible for a man to boycott his brother for more than three days) and he is a believer and a brother to us. And note this issue! For some people, out of their intense zeal for the religion of Allah, do not believe in brotherhood between them and the open sinners. And this is a great error. This opinion has the scent of the methodology of the Khawarij, an early sect that declared sinners disbelievers. The sinners, however great their sin, are our brothers. It is upon us to advise them. If there is a benefit in boycotting them such that they leave the sin, then boycotting here is either recommended or obligatory. And if there is no benefit in it, do not boycott him; greet him.
In terms of greeting, or in terms of buying and selling?The questioner: In terms of greeting.
The Shaykh: In terms of greeting, one should greet every person except the disbeliever, for one should not initiate the greeting to him. However, if he greets you, you must return the greeting; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to return the greeting to the People of the Book, the Jews and the Christians. As for if there is a benefit in boycotting him, such as an open sinner who, if we boycott him, will desist from his sin and repent to Allah, then here we boycott him; because there is a benefit in that. Just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) commanded the boycotting of Ka'b ibn Malik, Hilal ibn Umayyah, and Murarah ibn al-Rabi' when they lagged behind the expedition to Tabuk, but there was a benefit in boycotting them. However, if our boycotting this open sinner causes harm, such as if our boycotting him causes him to persist in his sin, and to hate us, and not to accept from us any reproof or correction, then here boycotting is not permissible; because this open sinner, however great his open sinfulness, is a believer.And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (It is not permissible for a man to boycott his brother for more than three days) and he is a believer and a brother to us. And note this issue! For some people, out of their intense zeal for the religion of Allah, do not believe in brotherhood between them and the open sinners. And this is a great error. This opinion has the scent of the methodology of the Khawarij, an early sect that declared sinners disbelievers. The sinners, however great their sin, are our brothers. It is upon us to advise them. If there is a benefit in boycotting them such that they leave the sin, then boycotting here is either recommended or obligatory. And if there is no benefit in it, do not boycott him; greet him.