The Ruling on Isolating Oneselves from People on the Pretext of Increasing Faith
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Some students of knowledge feel that if they isolate themselves from people, their faith increases and they rise in the ranks of righteousness, and that if they mix with people, their faith weakens. So it becomes difficult for them: should they mix with people despite the weakness of their faith, or should they isolate themselves from them with the increase of their faith and the elevation of their ranks in righteousness?
This is asking, he says: Indeed, some people, when they isolate themselves from others, their faith and their desire for good become strong, but when they mix with them, they become heedless and lazy. So which of the two is better?We say: If this man has knowledge with which he benefits people and guides them, then his mixing with people is more preferable. (The believer who mixes with people and endures their harm is better than the believer who does not mix with them and does not endure their harm). But if he is an ordinary man, and his isolation from people makes him more devout and his worship more upright, then let him do so. However, he must not isolate himself from his family, because he is responsible for his family. (A man is a shepherd in his home and is responsible for his flock).
The questioner: If he has knowledge, O Shaykh, does he call people to it?The Shaykh: If he has knowledge, it is obligatory for him to disseminate the knowledge, and it is obligatory for him not to be repelled by it. Glory be to Allah! Is the person not of sound mind? Disseminate the knowledge and spread the knowledge, and do not be repelled by it.
This is asking, he says: Indeed, some people, when they isolate themselves from others, their faith and their desire for good become strong, but when they mix with them, they become heedless and lazy. So which of the two is better?We say: If this man has knowledge with which he benefits people and guides them, then his mixing with people is more preferable. (The believer who mixes with people and endures their harm is better than the believer who does not mix with them and does not endure their harm). But if he is an ordinary man, and his isolation from people makes him more devout and his worship more upright, then let him do so. However, he must not isolate himself from his family, because he is responsible for his family. (A man is a shepherd in his home and is responsible for his flock).
The questioner: If he has knowledge, O Shaykh, does he call people to it?The Shaykh: If he has knowledge, it is obligatory for him to disseminate the knowledge, and it is obligatory for him not to be repelled by it. Glory be to Allah! Is the person not of sound mind? Disseminate the knowledge and spread the knowledge, and do not be repelled by it.