MILDNESS IN GIVING ADMONITIONS
Sometimes when one sees someone who is gradually falling in love with salafiyyah (Islaam based on the Sunnah and the understanding of the Pious Predecessors) committing some sins (e.g. stepping on trousers, shaving the beards, not wearing hijab, listening to music, dating, taking and posting pics for public consumption etc.), one tries to be patient with him or her in giving correction because getting such a person to understand Islaam (the Sunnah upon the fahm of the salaf) is the priority. Although guidance is from Allaah. But there is need for proper care in handling people these days, when evils have permeated the land, and sins have become something normal to many Muslims. On the other hand, goodness and sunnah have become something abnormal to a lot of Muslim. SubhanaLlah! So, what fitnah can be greater than this?
However, like Sheikh Rabee' حفظه الله said in one of his admonitions, this is the time of gentleness, especially with the ignorant people. Harshness shouldn't be used in time of mildness and midlness should not be used when it is appropriate to use harshness. Every condition has what suits it. This is from wasatiyyah (moderation) in da'wah. It is not wasatiyyah (moderation) to keep quiet when it is fundamentally necessary to make corrections. Let us not mistake compromise for moderation and vice versa. But if a preacher is excessively harsh on an ignorant person on a matter not relating to 'aqeedah, the ignorant person might be discouraged from learning the most important aspect of the Deen (taoheed). The logic is that, by the time he or she is well grounded in 'aqeedah, by Allaah's Grace, no one would tell him or her before he or she stops committing those sins of kabaair (big) and lamam (minor) nature, either privately or in public.
The objective of this piece is that, in da'wah (calling to pure and unadulterated Islaam), there is need for du'aat (callers) to set right their priorities and be lenient where appropriate in order to win some derailing souls. The only problem is that there is no time to waste, death can come at any time. Everyone of us should understand this and stop postponing sincere repentance. We should condemn all sinful acts, no matter how small. But special attention should be exerted on keeping people upon firm 'aqeedah of Islaam. Allah has the authority to punish any sinner if He so wish. No one can question Him. So, let us not joke with any sin no matter how small. But our salaf agree that it is still better for an 'abd (servant) to meet Allah with mere sins than to meet Him with grave bid'ah (innovations in the religion) or shirk (polytheism).Allaah says:
(إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَىٰ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا)
Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin. [Surat An-Nisa' 48, Sahih International]
May Allah guide us aright
No comments