What is your opinion on publishing certain stories through lessons and lectures, such as "a man committed zina with his sister or his daughter"?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
We hear from some preachers or orators that when they address certain topics, such as the topic of satellite dishes and warning against them, they cite, for example, a sensational story: that a man committed zina with his daughter, or a brother committed zina with his sister. Is there any issue with citing such stories, even if they actually happened, or with making them known to the people or the community?
The Shaykh : I see that these disgraceful stories should not be mentioned, whether regarding satellite dishes or otherwise, because if a person hears them, he may imagine that this matter is widespread, whereas this matter is specific. However, it is possible in a gathering for a person to mention them to explain their harms, specifically regarding satellite dishes. But generally, on the pulpit, this is a matter of concern. Furthermore, the attendees may be from outside the country, and one of them may imagine that this is happening in the country itself, which would result in a bad reputation.
So I see that they should not be mentioned, and it is sufficient to rely on the authentic hadith, which is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): It is said to the head of the family who is able to prevent the satellite dish from entering his home: Has Allah entrusted him with a flock? The answer is: Yes, without a doubt.
And if he is able to prevent this satellite dish and does not prevent it, despite witnessing the atrocities within it, is he considered to be deceiving his family or not? He is considered to be deceiving his family. Therefore, the hadith applies to him: He falls under this hadith without a doubt. But do we testify to this specific man? That is what is prohibited, because the texts of warning are not applied to every specific individual, just as the texts of promise are not applied to every specific individual. Do we not know that whoever is killed in the path of Allah is a martyr? So if a man is killed in battle between the Muslims and the disbelievers, do we say: So-and-so is a martyr specifically? No, we do not say that, because specifying is not generalizing.
So this man who kept the satellite dish while being able to prevent it, or who brought it into the house himself, if he dies, he is deceiving his flock. No one disputes this matter. He falls under the generality of the hadith. But it is prohibited to testify to him specifically, so you do not say, for example, to your neighbors if their father died and he had brought in the satellite dish: Your father is forbidden from Paradise. It is haram, because the scholars say: It is the methodology of the people of the Sunnah and the community that we do not testify to a specific person with Paradise or Hellfire, except for those to whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) testified.
We hear from some preachers or orators that when they address certain topics, such as the topic of satellite dishes and warning against them, they cite, for example, a sensational story: that a man committed zina with his daughter, or a brother committed zina with his sister. Is there any issue with citing such stories, even if they actually happened, or with making them known to the people or the community?
The Shaykh : I see that these disgraceful stories should not be mentioned, whether regarding satellite dishes or otherwise, because if a person hears them, he may imagine that this matter is widespread, whereas this matter is specific. However, it is possible in a gathering for a person to mention them to explain their harms, specifically regarding satellite dishes. But generally, on the pulpit, this is a matter of concern. Furthermore, the attendees may be from outside the country, and one of them may imagine that this is happening in the country itself, which would result in a bad reputation.
So I see that they should not be mentioned, and it is sufficient to rely on the authentic hadith, which is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
No servant whom Allah has placed in charge of a group of people, who dies while being a deceiver to them, will be allowed by Allah to enter Paradise
ما من عبد استرعاه الله على رعية يموت يوم يموت وهو غاش لها إلا حرم الله عليه الجنةAnd if he is able to prevent this satellite dish and does not prevent it, despite witnessing the atrocities within it, is he considered to be deceiving his family or not? He is considered to be deceiving his family. Therefore, the hadith applies to him:
No servant whom Allah has placed in charge of a group of people, who dies while being a deceiver to them, will be allowed by Allah to enter Paradise
ما من عبد استرعاه الله على رعية يموت يوم يموت وهو غاش لها إلا حرم الله عليه الجنةSo this man who kept the satellite dish while being able to prevent it, or who brought it into the house himself, if he dies, he is deceiving his flock. No one disputes this matter. He falls under the generality of the hadith. But it is prohibited to testify to him specifically, so you do not say, for example, to your neighbors if their father died and he had brought in the satellite dish: Your father is forbidden from Paradise. It is haram, because the scholars say: It is the methodology of the people of the Sunnah and the community that we do not testify to a specific person with Paradise or Hellfire, except for those to whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) testified.