Explaining the Method of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
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The Shaykh : The important point is the issue. I saw a person neglecting an obligatory duty, neglecting an obligatory duty, or committing a forbidden act. Do we say that it is obligatory for you to go to him and say, "Look, this is an evil that you must abandon, and this is an obligation that you neglected, which you must perform"? Yes. But if there is harm to him, then in this situation it is not obligatory for him. People do not infer permissibility from his silence. That is, they do not infer from the silence of this scholar that the action the other person is doing is permissible, because they know that the other person is a tyrant, a tyrant who might strike him, or torment him, or mistreat him. Others might also gather with him to enjoin good and forbid evil, and he might punish them for their crime, as he claims.
The questioner : ... This is false, but...
The Shaykh : They know that this is false. People today do not infer from the silence of scholars that an evil is actually good, except for a mere debater. Only a debater does this. Therefore, some debaters, when you say, "This is forbidden," say, "Well, what about the scholars? Why did the scholars not forbid it?" This is not necessary. The scholars may not forbid it, either due to inability, or out of fear, or out of consideration for other matters. The point is that this is an evil in the religion of Allah; it is an evil whether he does it or not.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : And they may forbid it, and this is not known. And they may forbid it, and this is not known.
Look, the time is up... Keep it to yourself.
The questioner : ... This is false, but...
The Shaykh : They know that this is false. People today do not infer from the silence of scholars that an evil is actually good, except for a mere debater. Only a debater does this. Therefore, some debaters, when you say, "This is forbidden," say, "Well, what about the scholars? Why did the scholars not forbid it?" This is not necessary. The scholars may not forbid it, either due to inability, or out of fear, or out of consideration for other matters. The point is that this is an evil in the religion of Allah; it is an evil whether he does it or not.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : And they may forbid it, and this is not known. And they may forbid it, and this is not known.
Look, the time is up... Keep it to yourself.