Is it permissible to greet a sinner who openly commits sins, such as a smoker or others? We need a rule that clarifies this matter.
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The questioner : Many Muslims are confused about the issue of greeting a sinner who openly commits sins while he is in that state, such as smoking. Is there a rule that clarifies this issue and similar ones? Please give us a ruling, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Yes, the rule is: First, does open sinfulness not take a person out of faith? It does not take him out of faith. Now, is it permissible to boycott a believer for more than three days? The answer is no, it is not permissible. This sinner who commits sins—but not disbelief—is our brother in Allah, and it is not permissible for us to boycott him for more than three days. However, if the boycott serves as a cure for him, meaning that if he sees that so-and-so has boycotted him, or that people have boycotted him, and he then reforms and his condition improves, then in that case the boycott is praiseworthy.
Boycotting may be recommended or it may be obligatory, depending on what results from it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) boycotted Ka'b ibn Malik and his two companions, and he ordered the people to boycott them for their absence from the Battle of Tabuk. But did this boycott benefit them or not? It benefited them, because it increased their turning to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and strengthened their faith. It is not hidden from us what happened to Ka'b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) during the trial, when a letter came to him from the King of Ghassan saying: "We have been informed that your companion has spoken ill of you, so come to us and we will console you." It was as if he was hinting that if he came to him, he would make him one of the kings of Ghassan. What did he do? He did not increase in anything except faith. He took the paper and burned it, fearing that his soul might tempt him in the future to go to this king. In the end, Allah the Exalted revealed a chapter in the Qur'an about their story, by which one draws near to Allah the Exalted by reciting it, and it is recited in prayer:[At-Tawbah 9:118] to the end of it.
So the important point, my brother, is that if there is a benefit for the sinner in boycotting him, then boycott him; otherwise, do not boycott him. If you pass by a person who is smoking, and smoking is a sin and forbidden, and persisting in it lowers its owner from the rank of justice to the rank of open sinfulness, greet him. If you see that boycotting him will not be of benefit, greet him. Perhaps if you greet him, stand with him, and speak to him, telling him that this is forbidden and that it is not befitting for you, he may comply and put out the cigarette and not return to it. But if you did not greet him, that would be a great burden on his heart, and he would hate you and hate the advice you bring. Do you understand? Yes.
The questioner : Even if he is in a state of sin?
The Shaykh : Even if he persists in the sin, greet him and advise him.
The Shaykh : Yes, the rule is: First, does open sinfulness not take a person out of faith? It does not take him out of faith. Now, is it permissible to boycott a believer for more than three days? The answer is no, it is not permissible. This sinner who commits sins—but not disbelief—is our brother in Allah, and it is not permissible for us to boycott him for more than three days. However, if the boycott serves as a cure for him, meaning that if he sees that so-and-so has boycotted him, or that people have boycotted him, and he then reforms and his condition improves, then in that case the boycott is praiseworthy.
Boycotting may be recommended or it may be obligatory, depending on what results from it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) boycotted Ka'b ibn Malik and his two companions, and he ordered the people to boycott them for their absence from the Battle of Tabuk. But did this boycott benefit them or not? It benefited them, because it increased their turning to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and strengthened their faith. It is not hidden from us what happened to Ka'b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) during the trial, when a letter came to him from the King of Ghassan saying: "We have been informed that your companion has spoken ill of you, so come to us and we will console you." It was as if he was hinting that if he came to him, he would make him one of the kings of Ghassan. What did he do? He did not increase in anything except faith. He took the paper and burned it, fearing that his soul might tempt him in the future to go to this king. In the end, Allah the Exalted revealed a chapter in the Qur'an about their story, by which one draws near to Allah the Exalted by reciting it, and it is recited in prayer:
And [He also forgave] the three who were left behind
وَعَلَى الثَّلاثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُواSo the important point, my brother, is that if there is a benefit for the sinner in boycotting him, then boycott him; otherwise, do not boycott him. If you pass by a person who is smoking, and smoking is a sin and forbidden, and persisting in it lowers its owner from the rank of justice to the rank of open sinfulness, greet him. If you see that boycotting him will not be of benefit, greet him. Perhaps if you greet him, stand with him, and speak to him, telling him that this is forbidden and that it is not befitting for you, he may comply and put out the cigarette and not return to it. But if you did not greet him, that would be a great burden on his heart, and he would hate you and hate the advice you bring. Do you understand? Yes.
The questioner : Even if he is in a state of sin?
The Shaykh : Even if he persists in the sin, greet him and advise him.