What are the Shari'ah guidelines for changing evil by hand? And is it permissible to spy on the people of evil?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, what are the Shari'ah guidelines for changing evil by hand? And is it permissible to spy on the people of evil to admonish them, when they are not from the people of hisbah?
The Shaykh : Yes, changing by hand is only possible for the one who has authority, meaning the ruler or his deputies whom he has appointed to act in his place, not for individual people, especially in our time. This is because one of us may think that something is evil when it is not, may Allah have mercy on you. He may think it is evil when it is not, and he changes it by hand, and this results in great harms. Did you understand this or not?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So, changing by hand now is not possible; this is for the rulers. What remains for us is changing by the tongue. Yes, you can change by the tongue, and you advise him with gentleness and softness, and you explain to him the benefits of leaving this evil and the harms if he persists in it. Is that clear?
What is the second point?
The questioner : And is it permissible to spy on the people of evil to admonish them?
The Shaykh : Spying is not permissible either, except if there are indications pointing to the existence of the evil, strong indications. Then it is not permissible for everyone to spy. Why?
Because if one of these people who are upon evil went out and found this man, what would he do to him? I am asking you?
The questioner : He would harm him.
The Shaykh : Not only harm him, he might kill him. But if it comes from the responsible authorities, that is possible. But as I told you: that there are apparent indications, such as women or male prostitutes entering this house, or something similar to that.
The Shaykh : Yes, changing by hand is only possible for the one who has authority, meaning the ruler or his deputies whom he has appointed to act in his place, not for individual people, especially in our time. This is because one of us may think that something is evil when it is not, may Allah have mercy on you. He may think it is evil when it is not, and he changes it by hand, and this results in great harms. Did you understand this or not?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So, changing by hand now is not possible; this is for the rulers. What remains for us is changing by the tongue. Yes, you can change by the tongue, and you advise him with gentleness and softness, and you explain to him the benefits of leaving this evil and the harms if he persists in it. Is that clear?
What is the second point?
The questioner : And is it permissible to spy on the people of evil to admonish them?
The Shaykh : Spying is not permissible either, except if there are indications pointing to the existence of the evil, strong indications. Then it is not permissible for everyone to spy. Why?
Because if one of these people who are upon evil went out and found this man, what would he do to him? I am asking you?
The questioner : He would harm him.
The Shaykh : Not only harm him, he might kill him. But if it comes from the responsible authorities, that is possible. But as I told you: that there are apparent indications, such as women or male prostitutes entering this house, or something similar to that.