The Obligation Toward One Who Lives in an Unhealthy Environment

Your Eminence! We received a letter from Mosul, from the al-Muthanna neighborhood in the Iraqi Republic. It says: A Muslim woman states that her family talks about people’s reputations, both truthfully and falsely. She attempts to stop them, but they respond to her with abusive words and ask her to stay away from them, which irritates her. Then her brother got married, and his wife insults her mother and does not help her in the house. She also participates in insulting people by talking about them. What should this Muslim girl do regarding her parents and her brother’s wife?
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
We hope for much good for this questioner; because forbidding evil is what Allah has prescribed for His servants; and because that is among the characteristics of the believing men and women, as Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Tawbah: 71]. There is no doubt that talking about people’s reputations and backbiting about people are among the evils. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: [Surah al-Hujurat: 12]. Backbiting is mentioning your brother with what he dislikes. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about that, he said: .
In summary: she is rewarded for her forbidding of evil, and this is what is obligatory for her if she is present. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in another hadith: . Forbidding evil from the one who commits it is a necessary duty for both men and women. She must strive, ask Allah for their guidance, address them in the best manner, advise them, and remind them that this is dangerous and that it is among the causes of Allah’s anger, and similar words, so that perhaps Allah will guide them. Likewise, with her brother’s wife who insults the mother and talks about reputations, she should also advise her and say to her: Fear Allah, and watch out for Allah; so that perhaps Allah will guide her through these means. This is what you should do, O sister questioner. Be steadfast in forbidding evil and be patient, for patience is necessary, as Luqman said to his son: [Surah Luqman: 17]. The one who commands good and forbids evil must inevitably face harm, and must inevitably hear what he dislikes, so he must be patient. Allah described the successful ones in His Noble Book as being patient, and He said, Glorified and Exalted is He: [Surah al-Asr: 1-3]. These are the characteristics of the successful ones, the characteristics of the people of faith and truth: sincere faith, righteous deeds, enjoining one another to truth, and enjoining one another to patience. Yes.