Is it permissible to sit with a person who is committing a sin while he is committing it, even if he is one of the relatives?
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The questioner : ... A person sees a wrong being committed by someone and rebukes him for it. This person must necessarily associate with him, such as his father, his brother, or his uncle. So, for example, if that person does not stop the wrong, is it permissible for this person to clear his conscience and proceed to sit with him, even though he dislikes the thing he is doing?
The Shaykh : Yes. As for sitting with him while he is committing the wrong, it is not permissible, even if he is your father or your mother. As for sitting with him when he is not committing that wrong, there is no harm, unless there is a benefit in boycotting him such that he repents from what he was doing. In that case, he should boycott him, even to the extent of not sitting with him. However, the kindness that does not involve sitting with the parents and relatives is obligatory. Do you understand? For example, if we assume that the father, for instance, is smoking and says, "You must sit with me while I am smoking," you do not sit with him. You say, "I am unable to." But if he is not smoking, you may sit with him and converse with him, even if you know that he commits the wrong, such as smoking or something other than smoking.
The questioner : And is my conscience cleared?
The Shaykh : Yes, your conscience is cleared. Allah the Exalted said to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):[Al-Ghashiyah 88:21-22] Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes. As for sitting with him while he is committing the wrong, it is not permissible, even if he is your father or your mother. As for sitting with him when he is not committing that wrong, there is no harm, unless there is a benefit in boycotting him such that he repents from what he was doing. In that case, he should boycott him, even to the extent of not sitting with him. However, the kindness that does not involve sitting with the parents and relatives is obligatory. Do you understand? For example, if we assume that the father, for instance, is smoking and says, "You must sit with me while I am smoking," you do not sit with him. You say, "I am unable to." But if he is not smoking, you may sit with him and converse with him, even if you know that he commits the wrong, such as smoking or something other than smoking.
The questioner : And is my conscience cleared?
The Shaykh : Yes, your conscience is cleared. Allah the Exalted said to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):