Emphasizing the use of wisdom in calling to Allah and in enjoining good and forbidding evil.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : We return to the root of the issue that I wish to emphasize.
I am, by Allah, very, very pleased to see zeal in our youth, and a keenness to remove what is wrong, to establish the truth, and to affirm what is right. But I would like, by Allah, with all my heart, for these young men to use wisdom in what they undertake. Even if the matter is delayed a little, the outcome is good. The one whose heart is inflamed with zeal and who dares to do what wisdom dictates he should not dare to do—there is no doubt that this pleases his heart temporarily, but it is followed by great harm.
So if the matter is delayed until one is careful and considers how to enter and how to exit, much good is achieved thereby, and one is saved from a bad outcome for himself and for those like him.
So using wisdom in calling to Allah, in changing what is wrong, and in establishing what is right—using wisdom in these matters is what the Shari'ah requires. And you, my brother, do not implement the law according to your desires, but according to the Shari'ah of your Lord:[An-Nahl 16:125].
Zeal is, without doubt, better than the death of the heart, but wisdom is better than all of it. The death of the heart is such that a person is not affected by what is wrong, nor is he affected by the abandonment of what is right. This is, by Allah, evil, and it is not among the characteristics and attributes of the Muslim community.
The Muslim community enjoins good and forbids evil, and calls to Allah. And not using wisdom is also evil.
And using wisdom with a living heart and movement toward the truth—this is the good.
So I call upon our youth—the people of zeal—to be clear-sighted in what they call to, clear-sighted in the state of the one being called, and clear-sighted in the manner of the call. And this last point is what a person should focus on in himself and in his brothers as well.
I am not saying to the youth: do not move, do not call to Allah, and leave people alone: the open sinner as an open sinner, and the obedient as obedient.
Rather, I say: forbid what is wrong and establish what is right, and call to Allah as much as you are able, night and day:[Ali 'Imran 3:200].
But what am I saying and emphasizing?
On using wisdom, being deliberate in matters, and that houses should be entered through their doors.
I am, by Allah, very, very pleased to see zeal in our youth, and a keenness to remove what is wrong, to establish the truth, and to affirm what is right. But I would like, by Allah, with all my heart, for these young men to use wisdom in what they undertake. Even if the matter is delayed a little, the outcome is good. The one whose heart is inflamed with zeal and who dares to do what wisdom dictates he should not dare to do—there is no doubt that this pleases his heart temporarily, but it is followed by great harm.
So if the matter is delayed until one is careful and considers how to enter and how to exit, much good is achieved thereby, and one is saved from a bad outcome for himself and for those like him.
So using wisdom in calling to Allah, in changing what is wrong, and in establishing what is right—using wisdom in these matters is what the Shari'ah requires. And you, my brother, do not implement the law according to your desires, but according to the Shari'ah of your Lord:
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best
ادْعُ إِلَن سَبيلِ رَبّكَ بالْحكْمَة وَالْمَوْعظَة الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بالتي هِيَ أَحْسَنُZeal is, without doubt, better than the death of the heart, but wisdom is better than all of it. The death of the heart is such that a person is not affected by what is wrong, nor is he affected by the abandonment of what is right. This is, by Allah, evil, and it is not among the characteristics and attributes of the Muslim community.
The Muslim community enjoins good and forbids evil, and calls to Allah. And not using wisdom is also evil.
And using wisdom with a living heart and movement toward the truth—this is the good.
So I call upon our youth—the people of zeal—to be clear-sighted in what they call to, clear-sighted in the state of the one being called, and clear-sighted in the manner of the call. And this last point is what a person should focus on in himself and in his brothers as well.
I am not saying to the youth: do not move, do not call to Allah, and leave people alone: the open sinner as an open sinner, and the obedient as obedient.
Rather, I say: forbid what is wrong and establish what is right, and call to Allah as much as you are able, night and day:
O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.
اصْبرُوا وَرَابطُوا وَاتَّقُوا الله َلعَلكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَBut what am I saying and emphasizing?
On using wisdom, being deliberate in matters, and that houses should be entered through their doors.