about the ruling on secluding oneself from people in this time?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : One of the brothers asks and says: Recently, something truly regrettable has occurred, which is the idea of seclusion and calling for it. Knowing that those who call for this seclusion cite the seclusion of Imam Malik, and say that seclusion existed among the Companions, then among the Successors, then among the Successors of the Successors. How accurate is this statement, and what is the concept of seclusion in the religion of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)?
The Shaykh : I do not think this has happened; what has happened? This is an exaggeration in speech. As for what is reported about Malik, Allah knows best about it. The time for seclusion has not yet come. Seclusion is only prescribed when there is much turmoil, which is killing among Muslims due to tribal or partisan loyalties or the like. As for this seclusion, praise be to Allah, its time has not yet come, and perhaps we will not reach that time. On the contrary, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 388 People have different natures. Some withdraw from themselves in every era, even in the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and some are in the category of mixing, even with open sinners and wrongdoers. The truth lies between these groups. A person mixes with others as long as he does not find harm in that mixing for himself, in his religion, or in his body, or in his children and descendants. So I do not believe that there is a Muslim who knows the Book and the Sunnah who says, "This is the time for seclusion." Is it not the time of fitnah? It is certainly the time of fitnah; you walk in the streets and see tabarruj (a woman's display of her adornment), but it is not the time in which seclusion is prescribed. For it is only prescribed in a time when fitnah intensifies among Muslims through their fighting one another. In that case, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The matter is concluded.
The questioner : Okay, some people say regarding the hadith, some of them say, "I cannot bear this mixing, so I see withdrawing from people." Is this statement correct?
The Shaykh : I said just now, I said just now: If he finds in himself that he does not benefit from mixing with people, or rather may be harmed by it, then that is his affair. But this does not become a general call for Muslims. I said this in previous times; a person might be isolated from all people and unable to mix with them.
The questioner : So, Professor, it is not permissible to spread this idea that some people are convinced of, or to urge their brothers to this matter.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is not permissible, correct, because as long as he says this with this qualification, it means that the others do not take this ruling. Yes.
Another questioner: Okay, Imam Malik was with Abu ... in ... another statement that he was, meaning, restricted, meaning prevented from going out. So what do you know about...
The Shaykh : I have no knowledge, I have no knowledge about this...
The Shaykh : I do not think this has happened; what has happened? This is an exaggeration in speech. As for what is reported about Malik, Allah knows best about it. The time for seclusion has not yet come. Seclusion is only prescribed when there is much turmoil, which is killing among Muslims due to tribal or partisan loyalties or the like. As for this seclusion, praise be to Allah, its time has not yet come, and perhaps we will not reach that time. On the contrary, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The believer who mixes with people and endures their injury is better than the person who does not mix with people nor endure their injury.
المؤمن الذي يخالط الناس و يصبر على أذاهم خير من الذي لا يخالطهم و لا يصبر على أذاهمIf you have a sword, strike with it...
إذا كان عندك سيف فاضرب به ...The questioner : Okay, some people say regarding the hadith
The believer who endures mixing with people is better than the believer who does not endure mixing with people.
المؤمن الذي يصبر على مخالطة الناس خير من المؤمن الذي لا يصبر على مخالطة الناسThe Shaykh : I said just now, I said just now: If he finds in himself that he does not benefit from mixing with people, or rather may be harmed by it, then that is his affair. But this does not become a general call for Muslims. I said this in previous times; a person might be isolated from all people and unable to mix with them.
The questioner : So, Professor, it is not permissible to spread this idea that some people are convinced of, or to urge their brothers to this matter.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is not permissible, correct, because as long as he says this with this qualification, it means that the others do not take this ruling. Yes.
Another questioner: Okay, Imam Malik was with Abu ... in ... another statement that he was, meaning, restricted, meaning prevented from going out. So what do you know about...
The Shaykh : I have no knowledge, I have no knowledge about this...