Saturday, April 28, 2012

Dawah an individual obligation?

Reply by Shaikh Salih al-Fawzan,
"Denying the evil by heart is the responsibility of every Muslim. He, who does not deny it in the heart, is not a Muslim inaccordance with the saying of Allah's Messenger , "Whosoever amongst you sees Munkar, he should change it by his hand.
And if he does not have enough strength to do so (by hand), then he should do it with his tongue. And if he does not have enough strength to do it (with his tongue), then he should (abhor it) in his heart, and that is the least of faith." [Saheeh Muslim]
As far as forbidding al-Munkar by hand and tongue is concerned, this is the responsibility of whosoever is capable of it from the rulers and scholars, and other Muslim - if it should not lead to a greater evil. Concerning denying it by the heart, then no Muslim is incapable of it nor is he excused from it..." [Al-Muntaqa]
"He, who is required to forbid by hand is the authority/ruler.
He who possesses knowledge but no authority should forbid by his tongue.
He, who neither possesses knowledge nor authority, should forbid it in his heart.
And he who does not stick to this order mentioned in the Hadeeth, then he does not posses Eeman in his heart as Allah'sMessenger said, 'and beyond that there is no faith even to the extent of a mustard seed.' [Saheeh Muslim (81)] [Al-Muntaqa (1/199)]
"It is not allowed for someone to move to a lower level of changing the evil if he is able to change it on a higher level. It is not allowed for someone who is able to forbid the evil with hand to come down to the level of forbidding it in the heart." [Al-Muntaqa (1/202)]
"Forbidding by hand should (only) be done by those in authority, because if we say that every one forbids the Munkar (evil) by hand, then there will be chaos in the world and peace will vanish.
So, there should be discipline in this matter, and the rulers must be approached in this issue so that peace is not vanquished. Because if everyone was to forbid by hand, cause corruption and beat the people, then chaos will take place because he does not have the authority (to do so) - unlike those who have the authority and are obeyed. Islam does not wish chaos. Rather, Islam wishes order and unity." [Muhadiraat (p. 545)]
"From those who have the power to change the evil by hand are the heads of the households. Allah's Messenger said, "Command your children to pray when they become seven years old, and beat them for it (prayer) when they become ten years old; and arrange their beds (to sleep) separately." [Sunan Abu Dawood (495)]
Allah says, "O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded." [Soorah at-Tahreem (66): 6] and, "Enjoin as-Salat (the prayer) on your family, and be patient in offering them [i.e. the Salaat]." [Soorah Ta-Ha (20): 132] [ Al-Muntaqa (1/203)]

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