Advice of leaving haram acts

22 Aug 2019 Ref-No#: 2116

Is it obligatory for me to advise someone who listens to music, stares at non-mahram women and does other haram acts to stop doing such while he is ignorant about islam? He knows that this acts are haram but he does not care.In this case is it obligatory for me to advise him though i know he won’t listen?

Answer

Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

Nahi ‘anil Munkar (prohibiting evil) is an integral point of faith. There are numerous verses of the Quran which clearly outline the importance of forbidding wrong.

To give three examples, Allah Ta’āla says:

وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ 

“And there has to be a group of people from among you who call towards good and prevent from evil.” [Surah Al Imran, verse 104]

كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُوْنَ بِالْمَعْرُوْفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ 

“You are the best of nations produced for mankind. You enjoin the right and forbid the evil” [Surah Al Imran, verse 110]

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

“The believers, men and women, are Awliya’ (protectors/supporters/helpers/friends) of each another; they enjoin (on the people) what is good, and forbid (people) from evil; they perform prayers and discharge their obligatory charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” [Surah at-Tawba, verse 71]

Likewise, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said,

من رأى منكم منكرا فليغيره بيده فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه وذلك أضعف الإيمان

“Whosoever witnesses a forbidden act being committed, he should prevent it by the use of his hands; if he is unable to do so, then he should prevent it with his tongue; if he is unable to do so, he should at least consider it a vice in his heart; and this is a very low level of Iman”. (Sahih Muslim Vol.2 Pg.211/2)

Our duty is merely to fulfill this obligation. Allah will then decide when to open the door of guidance.

We cannot make assumptions and judge others. Probably due to our constant advices, Allah will open his heart. Prophet Nuh (may Allah shower peace on him) invited his people for 950 years.

When carrying out this important injunction, it is essential to ensure that you forbid with love, diplomacy and wisdom. The objective is to bring people closer to Islam, and not to drive them further away.

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