What is the ruling on not forbidding evil due to the power of the perpetrator?
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Question:
Sometimes a person encounters evils for which his heart burns, but he is unable to forbid them because of the weakness of the one who is being forbidden and the strength of the perpetrator. What is to be done in this case?
Answer:
[Surat al-Taghabun: 16] The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 49a If one is in an environment where he cannot forbid with his hand or his tongue, let him avoid it and not attend the evil; he should distance himself and forbid with his heart. If he is in an environment where he can forbid with his tongue, he should forbid with his tongue. And if he can change it with his hand, like the father of the children, the ruler, the prince, or the committee, according to his authority, he should forbid with his hand according to the authority he possesses.
Sometimes a person encounters evils for which his heart burns, but he is unable to forbid them because of the weakness of the one who is being forbidden and the strength of the perpetrator. What is to be done in this case?
Answer:
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْHe who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.
من رأى منكم منكرًا فليغيره بيده، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه، فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه وذلك أضعف الإيمان
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.