Cooperation in righteousness and piety
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Q: How is cooperation in righteousness and piety achieved in the home if the father and the eldest brother do not pray in the mosque?
A: This is among the most important forms of mutual advice and among the most obligatory forms of cooperation. If the father, the brother, or any other member of the household engages in some form of wrongdoing, it is obligatory to advise one another, cooperate, and exhort one another to truth to the best of one’s ability, using a good manner and seeking the appropriate time until the wrongdoing is removed. As Allah the Exalted said: [Surat al-Taghabun: 16]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 7288.
The father has a special status, the mother has a special status, and the brother, whether older or younger, has a special status. Each is to be dealt with in a good manner, with gentleness and kindness, to the best of one’s ability, until the objective is achieved and the danger is removed.
The advisor and the one who calls to Allah must seek the appropriate times and the appropriate manner, especially with the parents, for they are not like the rest of the relatives. They have a great status, and being dutiful to them is specifically required according to one’s capacity. Allah, Glorious and Exalted, said:[Luqman 31:14] and if they strive to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them, but accompany them in this world with kindness the verse [Surat Luqman: 14-15]. This is when they are disbelievers, so how much more so with Muslim parents! If the disbelieving parents are to be accompanied by their child with kindness and treated well, perhaps he will guide them through his means, then Muslim parents are more deserving and more entitled to that.
If the father is lazy about praying in the mosque, or engages in other sins such as smoking, shaving the beard, letting the garment hang below the ankles, or other sins that he may commit, it is obligatory for the son to advise in the best manner and to seek help in doing so from those he sees among the best of the household. And so it is with the mother, the eldest brother, and the other members of the household, until the desired outcome is achieved.
A: This is among the most important forms of mutual advice and among the most obligatory forms of cooperation. If the father, the brother, or any other member of the household engages in some form of wrongdoing, it is obligatory to advise one another, cooperate, and exhort one another to truth to the best of one’s ability, using a good manner and seeking the appropriate time until the wrongdoing is removed. As Allah the Exalted said:
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْAnd if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can.
إذا أمرتكم بأمر فأتوا منه ما استطعتمThe father has a special status, the mother has a special status, and the brother, whether older or younger, has a special status. Each is to be dealt with in a good manner, with gentleness and kindness, to the best of one’s ability, until the objective is achieved and the danger is removed.
The advisor and the one who calls to Allah must seek the appropriate times and the appropriate manner, especially with the parents, for they are not like the rest of the relatives. They have a great status, and being dutiful to them is specifically required according to one’s capacity. Allah, Glorious and Exalted, said:
And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَى وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ If the father is lazy about praying in the mosque, or engages in other sins such as smoking, shaving the beard, letting the garment hang below the ankles, or other sins that he may commit, it is obligatory for the son to advise in the best manner and to seek help in doing so from those he sees among the best of the household. And so it is with the mother, the eldest brother, and the other members of the household, until the desired outcome is achieved.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.