There are people who do things that are forbidden in Islam, so what is required of me regarding them? Do I advise them and stop there, or what must I do?
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The questioner : There are people who do things that are forbidden in Islam, so what is required of me regarding them? Do I advise them and stop there, or what must I do?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for you to advise them, guide them, and warn them of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If you fear that they will not trust your words, seek help in that by using the words of scholars whom these people trust. Bring to them something from their books, if they have books, or their answers, or their recordings, so that they are convinced by this. If you are unable to do that, or if you are able and you did it but they did not benefit from it, then at that time it is obligatory for you to refer their case to the one who has authority over them, so that he compels them to do what is obligatory upon them in the right of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
And it should be known that among the most important rights of neighbors over one another is enjoining good and forbidding evil. And if the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 2625b And if it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1942Sahih (Darussalam)
So it is obligatory for us to strive for the guidance of our neighbor, because his guidance is nourishment for the soul and good for him in his religion and his worldly life. Let no one say, "I am afraid that if I advise him, he will be angry with me or boycott me," for this is the fear instilled by Satan. Rather, advise him, enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong, for this is what is obligatory upon you. And it is obligatory upon him to accept the truth from whatever source it comes. If he does not accept it, the one who enjoins good and forbids evil is free of blame, and the sin falls upon the one who defied. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. This questioner, O esteemed Shaykh Muhammad, says:
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for you to advise them, guide them, and warn them of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If you fear that they will not trust your words, seek help in that by using the words of scholars whom these people trust. Bring to them something from their books, if they have books, or their answers, or their recordings, so that they are convinced by this. If you are unable to do that, or if you are able and you did it but they did not benefit from it, then at that time it is obligatory for you to refer their case to the one who has authority over them, so that he compels them to do what is obligatory upon them in the right of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
And it should be known that among the most important rights of neighbors over one another is enjoining good and forbidding evil. And if the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
when you prepare the broth, add water to that and give that (as a present) to your neighbour.
إذا طبخت مرقةً فأكثر ماءها وتعاهد جيرانكJibril – may the Salawat of Allah be upon him – continued to recommend me about (treating) the neighbors so (kindly and politely), that I thought he would order me to make them heirs.
ما زال جبريل يوصيني بالجار حتى ظننت أنه سيورّثهSo it is obligatory for us to strive for the guidance of our neighbor, because his guidance is nourishment for the soul and good for him in his religion and his worldly life. Let no one say, "I am afraid that if I advise him, he will be angry with me or boycott me," for this is the fear instilled by Satan. Rather, advise him, enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong, for this is what is obligatory upon you. And it is obligatory upon him to accept the truth from whatever source it comes. If he does not accept it, the one who enjoins good and forbids evil is free of blame, and the sin falls upon the one who defied. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. This questioner, O esteemed Shaykh Muhammad, says: