If the person in charge does not care about religious or administrative matters, is the conscience cleared by conveying the issue of the wrongdoings to him?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, this issue has caused us a great difficulty, so we ask for a comprehensive explanation due to the urgent need for it: We work in a place where wrongdoings are prevalent and where they are being condemned.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : They are being condemned by the person in charge through wise, legitimate means, such as written correspondence, phone calls, and other methods of reporting. However, the wrongdoings continue, and the one performing the oversight is not rushing for results. But a difficulty arose regarding the clearing of the conscience at the level of reporting. Some people said: It is sufficient for us to inform the immediate supervisor about these wrongdoings and about his neglect of the circular issued regarding them, even if we believe that the supervisor does not care and that the Imam is unaware of this and does not approve of it. Another group said: No, the conscience is not cleared, and it is necessary to write to the Imam, because our certainty that the immediate supervisor does not care about implementing the circular, and that the Imam is unaware, constitutes a deception in the advice that brings us sin because of it. Where is the correct path? May Allah forgive you and your parents.
The Shaykh : This is an important question, as he said.The questioner : The issue is that some people in charge of certain sectors do not care about religious matters or administrative matters. They are negligent and unfit for work in this place, whether in terms of administration or religion. Some of the people of goodness and righteousness under their authority, who enjoin good and forbid evil, advise them, but they persist in their ways. So, is the conscience cleared by advising them, or is it necessary to escalate the matter to their superior so that he may correct or replace them?
I say in my answer to this: It is necessary to escalate the matter to the superior. It is obligatory to escalate the matter to the superior. Remaining silent about this is deception; it is deception toward the rulers, deception toward the work, and injustice, even toward this negligent supervisor. Because if you escalate the matter to the superior and the intended outcome and rectification are achieved, then you have lifted from this immediate supervisor the sin of negligence and the failure to perform the obligatory duty. In other words, you have advised him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:.
Therefore, it is obligatory for every person who has an immediate supervisor who is neglecting the trust in religion or in administration to advise him with all the advice he is able to give. If the desired outcome is achieved, that is what is required. If it is not achieved, it is obligatory for him to escalate it to the superior in order for him to replace or correct him. As for remaining silent about the error, that is an error. One might say: I am afraid that he will oppress me and the intended outcome will not be achieved. We say: This is possible; the intended outcome may not be achieved, and the person above him may also be indifferent. But if you suffer harm in this, then it is for the sake of Allah.
So this is for the sake of Allah. You will have reward in it, and a good reputation in your life and after your death. And be patient with what befalls you, as Luqman said to his son:[Luqman 31:17]. However, if a person does what Allah has commanded in the manner that pleases Allah (Mighty and Majestic), then the outcome will be for him. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him): [Hud 11:49]. And He said: [Taha 20:132]. But we must have complete faith in this, knowing that the outcome is for us whenever we fear Allah.
The outcome does not have to be immediate; it does not have to be hasty. It may be delayed as a trial and test, and it may not be achieved until the Hereafter, so that it may be more reward and recompense. Yes.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : They are being condemned by the person in charge through wise, legitimate means, such as written correspondence, phone calls, and other methods of reporting. However, the wrongdoings continue, and the one performing the oversight is not rushing for results. But a difficulty arose regarding the clearing of the conscience at the level of reporting. Some people said: It is sufficient for us to inform the immediate supervisor about these wrongdoings and about his neglect of the circular issued regarding them, even if we believe that the supervisor does not care and that the Imam is unaware of this and does not approve of it. Another group said: No, the conscience is not cleared, and it is necessary to write to the Imam, because our certainty that the immediate supervisor does not care about implementing the circular, and that the Imam is unaware, constitutes a deception in the advice that brings us sin because of it. Where is the correct path? May Allah forgive you and your parents.
The Shaykh : This is an important question, as he said.The questioner : The issue is that some people in charge of certain sectors do not care about religious matters or administrative matters. They are negligent and unfit for work in this place, whether in terms of administration or religion. Some of the people of goodness and righteousness under their authority, who enjoin good and forbid evil, advise them, but they persist in their ways. So, is the conscience cleared by advising them, or is it necessary to escalate the matter to their superior so that he may correct or replace them?
I say in my answer to this: It is necessary to escalate the matter to the superior. It is obligatory to escalate the matter to the superior. Remaining silent about this is deception; it is deception toward the rulers, deception toward the work, and injustice, even toward this negligent supervisor. Because if you escalate the matter to the superior and the intended outcome and rectification are achieved, then you have lifted from this immediate supervisor the sin of negligence and the failure to perform the obligatory duty. In other words, you have advised him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Help your brother whether he is wrongdoer or wronged. They said: O Messenger of Allah, how do we help the wrongdoer? He said: By preventing him from wrongdoing.
انصر أخاك ظالما أو مظلوما قالوا : يا رسول الله هذا المظلوم كيف ننصر الظالم ؟ قال : تمنعوه من الظلمTherefore, it is obligatory for every person who has an immediate supervisor who is neglecting the trust in religion or in administration to advise him with all the advice he is able to give. If the desired outcome is achieved, that is what is required. If it is not achieved, it is obligatory for him to escalate it to the superior in order for him to replace or correct him. As for remaining silent about the error, that is an error. One might say: I am afraid that he will oppress me and the intended outcome will not be achieved. We say: This is possible; the intended outcome may not be achieved, and the person above him may also be indifferent. But if you suffer harm in this, then it is for the sake of Allah.
So this is for the sake of Allah. You will have reward in it, and a good reputation in your life and after your death. And be patient with what befalls you, as Luqman said to his son:
O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you
يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَكَThat is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. You knew it not, neither you nor your people, before this. So be patient; indeed, the [best] outcome is for the righteous.
تِلْكَ مِنْ أَنْبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهَا إِلَيْكَ مَا كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُهَا أَنْتَ وَلا قَوْمُكَ مِنْ قَبْلِ هَذَا فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ الْعَاقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَWe ask you not for provision; We provide for you, and the [best] outcome is for [those of] righteousness.
لا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقاً نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىThe outcome does not have to be immediate; it does not have to be hasty. It may be delayed as a trial and test, and it may not be achieved until the Hereafter, so that it may be more reward and recompense. Yes.