How is the hadith: (Drive them to the narrowest paths) applied?
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The Shaykh : ... they are equal in rights. Driving them to the narrowest paths is contrary to equality, contrary to the so-called democracy. Therefore, if you are able to apply "drive them to the narrowest paths" without suffering harm that you cannot bear in the near or distant future, then do it, for you will do well.
By Allah, you want to do it and then you regret what you did and end up doing like that Shaykh in Damascus. He used to denounce with all literary courage the innovators and those who seek aid from other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic). He used to denounce them publicly until the people rose up against him. He could not bear that uprising, his morale crumbled, and his personality weakened, so he turned on his heels and began standing before the shrine of Yahya (peace be upon him) and making du'a' just as those others do.
For what reason? So that they think well of him, that he is not the one they knew before. If it is predominant in a person that he cannot bear harm, even in the path of Allah, then he should not expose himself to it, because he is safe from it. If he realizes that forbidding evil has three levels: the first level is to forbid it with his hand, the second is if he cannot, then with his tongue, and if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith. So today, I am in a position to say to a non-Muslim... stay out of the middle of the road, the middle of the road is for the Muslim, and it is not for you. This is a command that cannot be implemented today because of the existing laws. So it is sufficient for us that we do not greet non-Muslims with our greeting. As for saying to him "good morning" or "good evening," there is no harm in that.
The questioner : Allahu Akbar.
The Shaykh : Allah is the Greatest.
By Allah, you want to do it and then you regret what you did and end up doing like that Shaykh in Damascus. He used to denounce with all literary courage the innovators and those who seek aid from other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic). He used to denounce them publicly until the people rose up against him. He could not bear that uprising, his morale crumbled, and his personality weakened, so he turned on his heels and began standing before the shrine of Yahya (peace be upon him) and making du'a' just as those others do.
For what reason? So that they think well of him, that he is not the one they knew before. If it is predominant in a person that he cannot bear harm, even in the path of Allah, then he should not expose himself to it, because he is safe from it. If he realizes that forbidding evil has three levels: the first level is to forbid it with his hand, the second is if he cannot, then with his tongue, and if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith. So today, I am in a position to say to a non-Muslim... stay out of the middle of the road, the middle of the road is for the Muslim, and it is not for you. This is a command that cannot be implemented today because of the existing laws. So it is sufficient for us that we do not greet non-Muslims with our greeting. As for saying to him "good morning" or "good evening," there is no harm in that.
The questioner : Allahu Akbar.
The Shaykh : Allah is the Greatest.