Also, Rashed Ghanim al-'Abd al-Ghafar says: Some people, may Allah guide them, when we order them to perform a religious obligation, say to us, "Your religion is for you, and my religion is for me." What is the position of the Muslim regarding this?
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The questioner : Also, Rashed Ghanim al-'Abd al-Ghafar says: Some people, may Allah guide them, when I order them to perform a religious obligation, they say to me, "Your religion is for you, and my religion is for me." What is the position of the Muslim regarding this?
The Shaykh : He is truthful in his statement: "Your religion is for you, and my religion is for me." However, this does not prevent enjoining good and forbidding evil, especially compelling him to adhere to the Shari'ah if he is committed to it. Indeed, the Muslim is committed to the Shari'ah, and he did not become a Muslim except while being committed to the laws of Islam. If he neglects them and wastes them, he is compelled to adhere to them. Therefore, he is coerced to perform the laws of Islam, such as being coerced to fast, to pay zakah, and to perform Hajj, and he is forced to do so. Then, if he does not do it except to remove the coercion, it is not accepted from him. But if he does it for the sake of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), it is accepted.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The important point is that it is part of a person's religion to order others to do what is right and forbid them from doing what is wrong. So if he says to me, "Your religion is for you, and my religion is for me," I say: Yes, your religion is for you, and my religion is for me, but my religion commands me to order you to do what is right and forbid you from doing what is wrong.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is part of my religion, yes.
The Shaykh : He is truthful in his statement: "Your religion is for you, and my religion is for me." However, this does not prevent enjoining good and forbidding evil, especially compelling him to adhere to the Shari'ah if he is committed to it. Indeed, the Muslim is committed to the Shari'ah, and he did not become a Muslim except while being committed to the laws of Islam. If he neglects them and wastes them, he is compelled to adhere to them. Therefore, he is coerced to perform the laws of Islam, such as being coerced to fast, to pay zakah, and to perform Hajj, and he is forced to do so. Then, if he does not do it except to remove the coercion, it is not accepted from him. But if he does it for the sake of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), it is accepted.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The important point is that it is part of a person's religion to order others to do what is right and forbid them from doing what is wrong. So if he says to me, "Your religion is for you, and my religion is for me," I say: Yes, your religion is for you, and my religion is for me, but my religion commands me to order you to do what is right and forbid you from doing what is wrong.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is part of my religion, yes.