Chapter on Admonition and Moderation in It: Allah the Exalted said: “Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction.”
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The reader: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions:
He said -may Allah have mercy on him-: "Chapter on Admonition and Moderation in It:
Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nahl 16:125].
And as for the hadiths: From Abu Wa'il Shaqiq ibn Salama, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:Riyad as-Salihin 698 Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim ".
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
The author -may Allah have mercy on him- said in the book *Riyad al-Salihin*: "Chapter on Admonition and Moderation in It": Admonition is the mention of the rulings of the Shari'ah accompanied by encouragement or warning, meaning that you say to a person, for example: "It is obligatory for you to do such and such, so fear Allah and do what Allah has made obligatory upon you," and the like of that.
The greatest admonisher is the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, for Allah says:[Yunus 10:57]: So the greatest thing by which one is admonished is the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, because it combines encouragement and warning, and the mention of Paradise and the Fire, and the righteous and the negligent. It is the greatest book by which one is admonished, but this is only so for the one who has a heart or who lends an ear while being a witness, as the Exalted said: [Qaf 50:37].
As for the one whose heart has hardened, refuge with Allah from that, Allah the Exalted said:[At-Tawbah 9:124]: And thus, the believer, whenever he reads a verse from the Book of Allah, his faith in Allah increases and he rejoices in what Allah has placed in his heart of light from this great Book, [At-Tawbah 9:125] We seek refuge with Allah from that. A person should admonish people: with the Qur'an, with the Sunnah, with the words of the imams, with everything that softens hearts and directs them to Allah, Mighty and Majestic.
Then the author -may Allah have mercy on him- mentioned that moderation in admonition is required, meaning that one should not overdo it with people, so as to bore them and make them dislike the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the words of the scholars of knowledge. For when souls become bored, they become weary, tired, and disgusted, and they hate the truth even if it is truth. For this reason, the most wise of the admonishers among creation is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his companions):: He does not overdo it with them so that they do not become bored, weary, and dislike what is said of the truth.
Then the author introduced this chapter with the words of the Exalted:[An-Nahl 16:125].
: Meaning to the religion of Allah, because the path of Allah is the religion of Allah, since it leads to Allah the Exalted. Whoever follows this religion, it will lead him to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. And because this religion was established by Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and legislated for His servants, it was attributed to Him and called: the path of Allah [An-Nahl 16:125]:
With three things. First: Wisdom, and that is by placing things in their proper places at the appropriate time, in the appropriate place, and with the appropriate words. For in some places, admonition is not appropriate, and in some times, admonition is not appropriate, and likewise, with some people, it is not appropriate to admonish them in any state; rather, one waits until they are ready to accept the admonition. For this reason, he said: The scholars said: "And wisdom is placing things in their proper places".
Second: Meaning: Make your call accompanied by good admonition, an admonition that softens the heart, tenderizes it, and directs it to Allah. It should be good. If encouragement is more appropriate in it, then use encouragement. If warning and frightening are more appropriate in it, then use frightening and warning.
Likewise, it should be good in terms of style and phrasing, being good and acceptable. It should also be good in terms of persuasion, such that you bring an admonition containing convincing evidence, religious evidence and rational evidence that support the religious ruling. For some people are convinced by religious evidence, like the pure believers, for Allah says:[Al-Ahzab 33:36].
And some people do not suffice with religious evidence; they need the religious evidence to be supported for them by rational evidence. For this reason, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, argues in many verses with rational evidence for what He revealed to His Prophet of religious evidence. Look, for example, at the resurrection after death. The disbelievers denied the resurrection after death and said:[Ya-Sin 36:78]: How can a person die and the earth consume his bones, flesh, and skin, and then be resurrected? So Allah answered: [Ya-Sin 36:79]: Who created these bones the first time? It is Allah. And recreating creation is easier than its first creation: [Ar-Rum 30:27], [Ya-Sin 36:81]: These are rational arguments, arguing from the beginning to the end. And likewise, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, argues for the possibility of resurrection by the revival of the earth after its death. For Allah the Exalted sends rain upon a barren, dry land with no greenery, [Al-Hajj 22:63] with this rain. Who revived this plant except Allah? So the One who revived this plant after its dryness and death is capable of reviving the dead. And there must be another life, for it is not wise that Allah creates this creation, provides them with blessings and sustenance, sends down books upon them, sends messengers to them, and legislates jihad against the enemies of Allah, and then the matter is just a fleeting worldly life that goes away. This cannot be! This is contrary to wisdom. Rather, there must be another life, which is the true life, as the Exalted said: [Al-Fajr 89:24]: It sweeps away the entire worldly life because it is nothing, it has gone. The true life is the Hereafter: [Al-Baqarah 2:201].
He said:[An-Nahl 16:125]: Meaning, if you admonish with good admonition and the person becomes an arguer and does not accept, argue, do not withdraw. But argue in the best manner, in terms of style, in terms of presentation, and in terms of persuasion. If he argues with you with an evidence, try to refute his evidence. If refuting his evidence takes a long time, move to another evidence. Do not get stuck in argument with him; move to another evidence in which he cannot argue with you. Look at Ibrahim (peace and blessings be upon him) when the man argued with him about Allah: [Al-Baqarah 2:258]: Meaning, you cannot give life and cause death. [Al-Baqarah 2:258] He said this as an arguer and a stubborn one. How does he give life and cause death? The man deserving of killing is brought and he says, "Do not kill him," and the man not deserving of killing is brought and he says, "Kill him." Thus he confused the people. So Ibrahim said: [Al-Baqarah 2:258], and he did not argue with him on his statement "I give life and cause death." Otherwise, if he had argued with him, he would have said: "You have not given life and you have not caused death. You do the cause of death, and he dies, which is killing. And you remove the cause of killing, so he is not killed." But he turned away from this, because it would lead to argumentation about something the opponent cannot move. He said: [Al-Baqarah 2:258] Can he or can he not? Yes, he cannot. For this reason, he said: [Al-Baqarah 2:258].
So the result is that Allah says:[An-Nahl 16:125] Do not withdraw.
And it is understood from the verse that the one who cannot argue in the best manner should not argue. For a person may come who is truly a believer and has no doubt in the faith he possesses, but he is argued with by the most stubborn of opponents, and he is unable to resist him. In this case, do not argue, because if you argue, you will not argue in the best manner. Leave him for another time, or until someone stronger than you in argumentation comes and argues with him. And Allah knows best.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions:
He said -may Allah have mercy on him-: "Chapter on Admonition and Moderation in It:
Allah the Exalted said:
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction
ادع إلى سبيل ربك بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنةAnd as for the hadiths: From Abu Wa'il Shaqiq ibn Salama, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) used to preach to us once every Thursday. A man said to him: "O Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, we love your talk and we wish that you preach us every day." He said: "There is nothing to prevent me from doing so, but I don't lest I bore you. I follow the same method in preaching to you that Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) adopted in preaching to us for fear of boredom."
كان ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه يذكرنا في كل خميس مرة، فقال له رجل: يا أبا عبد الرحمن، لوددت أنك ذكرتنا كل يوم، فقال: أما إنه يمنعني من ذلك أني أكره أن أملكم وإني أتخولكم بالموعظة، كما كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتخولنا بها مخافة السآمة عليناThe Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
The author -may Allah have mercy on him- said in the book *Riyad al-Salihin*: "Chapter on Admonition and Moderation in It": Admonition is the mention of the rulings of the Shari'ah accompanied by encouragement or warning, meaning that you say to a person, for example: "It is obligatory for you to do such and such, so fear Allah and do what Allah has made obligatory upon you," and the like of that.
The greatest admonisher is the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, for Allah says:
O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.
يا أيّها الناس قد جاءتكم موعظة من ربّكم وشفاء لما في الصّدور وهدى ورحمة للمؤمنينIndeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind].
إنّ في ذلك لذكرى لمن كان له قلب أو ألقى السّمع وهو شهيدAs for the one whose heart has hardened, refuge with Allah from that, Allah the Exalted said:
And whenever a surah is revealed, there are among the hypocrites those who say, "Which of you has this increased faith?" As for those who believed, it has increased them in faith, while they are rejoicing.
وإذا ما أنزلت سورة فمنهم من يقول أيّكم زادته هذه إيماناً فأما الذين آمنوا فزادتهم إيمانًا وهم يستبشرونBut as for those in whose hearts is disease, it has [only] increased them in evil [in addition] to their evil. And they will have died while they are disbelievers.
وأما الذين في قلوبهم مرض فزادتهم رِجسًا إلى رِجسهم وماتوا وهم كافرونThen the author -may Allah have mercy on him- mentioned that moderation in admonition is required, meaning that one should not overdo it with people, so as to bore them and make them dislike the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the words of the scholars of knowledge. For when souls become bored, they become weary, tired, and disgusted, and they hate the truth even if it is truth. For this reason, the most wise of the admonishers among creation is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his companions):
He would address the people in admonition in a measured way.
يتخوّل الناس في الموعظةThen the author introduced this chapter with the words of the Exalted:
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best
ادع إلى سبيل ربك بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة وجادلهم بالتي هي أحسنCall to the way of your Lord.
ادع إلى سبيل ربّكInvite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best
ادع إلى سبيل ربك بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة وجادلهم بالتي هي أحسنWith three things. First: Wisdom, and that is by placing things in their proper places at the appropriate time, in the appropriate place, and with the appropriate words. For in some places, admonition is not appropriate, and in some times, admonition is not appropriate, and likewise, with some people, it is not appropriate to admonish them in any state; rather, one waits until they are ready to accept the admonition. For this reason, he said:
with wisdom
بالحكمةSecond:
and good admonition
والموعظة الحسنةLikewise, it should be good in terms of style and phrasing, being good and acceptable. It should also be good in terms of persuasion, such that you bring an admonition containing convincing evidence, religious evidence and rational evidence that support the religious ruling. For some people are convinced by religious evidence, like the pure believers, for Allah says:
It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair
وما كان لمؤمن ولا مؤمنة إذا قضى الله ورسوله أمراً أن يكون لهم الخيرة من أمرهمAnd some people do not suffice with religious evidence; they need the religious evidence to be supported for them by rational evidence. For this reason, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, argues in many verses with rational evidence for what He revealed to His Prophet of religious evidence. Look, for example, at the resurrection after death. The disbelievers denied the resurrection after death and said:
Who will give life to bones while they are disintegrated?"
من يحي العظام وهي رميمSay, "He will give them life who produced them the first time
قل يحييها الذي أنشأها أول مرّةAnd it is He who begins creation; then He repeats it, and that is [even] easier for Him
هو الذي يبدأ الخلق ثم يعيده وهو أهون عليهIs not He who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the likes of them? Yes
أوليس الذي خلق السّماوات والأرض بقادر على أن يخلق مثلهم بلىand the earth becomes green
فتصبح الأرض مخضرّةHe will say, "Oh, I wish I had sent ahead [some good] for my life."
يقول يا ليتني قدّمت لحياتيOur Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."
ربّنا آتنا في الدّنيا حسنة وفي الآخرة حسنة وقنا عذاب النارHe said:
and argue with them in a way that is best
وجادلهم بالتي هي أحسنHave you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord [merely] because Allah had given him kingship? When Abraham said, "My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death,"
ألم تر إلى الذي حاجّ إبراهيم في ربّه أن آتاه الله الملك إذ قال إبراهيم ربّي الذي يحيي ويميتhe said, "I give life and cause death."
قال أنا أحيي وأميتIndeed, Allah brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up from the west
إن الله يأتي بالشّمس من المشرق فأت بها من الغربIndeed, Allah brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up from the west.
إن الله يأتي بالشمس من المشرق فأت بها من المغربSo the disbeliever was overwhelmed [by astonishment], and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.
فبهت الذي كفر والله لا يهدي القوم الظالمينSo the result is that Allah says:
and argue with them in a way that is best
وجادلهم بالتي هي أحسنAnd it is understood from the verse that the one who cannot argue in the best manner should not argue. For a person may come who is truly a believer and has no doubt in the faith he possesses, but he is argued with by the most stubborn of opponents, and he is unable to resist him. In this case, do not argue, because if you argue, you will not argue in the best manner. Leave him for another time, or until someone stronger than you in argumentation comes and argues with him. And Allah knows best.