Judge Me!

One of the problems in our Ummah that has become wide spread among many Muslims is the confusion about “judging” other people. While one group of Muslims goes to one extreme by over-reacting to the wrong that they see around them and sometimes even going to the extent of declaring some Muslims as disbelievers and sending them to Hell because of a minor sin, the other group of Muslims go to the other extreme of not doing or saying anything to correct the wrong that they see because they do not want to “judge” the person that is doing the wrong action. Unfortunately, many Muslims belong to the latter group, whereby they seem to equate giving advice, enjoining the good, and forbidding the evil to “judging” others. There is a key point that many seem to miss. Yes, we are not supposed to “judge” other people’s intentions because we do not know what is in the people’s hearts and we can not assume things about their intentions for doing things. For example, if I see a brother giving a lot of money in charity, I can’t accuse him that he is donating to show off in front of others, because I don’t know the intentions in his heart, and any assumption I make about that would be based only on conjecture.

“And most of them do not follow (anything) but conjecture; surely conjecture can by no means take the place of truth. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do.” (Surah Yunus 10:36)

However, we can and we should “judge” the wrong actions that people do on the outside based on the commandments of Allah, and if Allah has made something impermissible or Haram, it is our duty to say that it is wrong when we see a fellow Muslim committing that sinful action and give him/her advice in an attempt to forbid the evil. Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil has a lot of reward in it, and is one of the most beloved good deeds to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.

Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil is an obligation on every Muslim, and it is a recurring theme in the Quran and the Hadith.

“And from among you there should be a party who invite to good and enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong, and these it is that shall be successful.” (Surah Al ‘Imran 3:104)

“You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men; you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah.” (Surah Al ‘Imran 3:110)

It is this that makes us the best of nations, and if we leave our duty of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, then we will be on the path to be among the worst of nations. That is one of the reasons why those who went astray from the Children of Israel were cursed, because they never forbade the sins and evil being done among them.

“Those of the Children of Israel who went astray were cursed by the tongue of David and of Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they rebelled and used to transgress. They used not to forbid each other the wickedness they did; certainly evil was that which they did.” (Surah Al Ma’idah 5:78-79)

And that is how Allah described the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Quran:

“He (Muhammad (peace be upon him)) will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that which is wrong.” (Surah Al A’raf 7:157)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Whosoever of you sees a Munkar (an evil or wrong) let him change it with his hand, if he could not, then let him change it with his tongue, if he could not, then let him change it with his heart, and this is the weakest of Iman (faith).” (Sahih Muslim)

The companion Abu Saeed Alkhidri may Allah be pleased with him, narrated the above hadith. He mentions an incident where a man named Marwan started with the Khutbah (sermon) before the prayer on the day of Eid, so a man stood up and said “Oh Marwan, you have opposed the Sunnah by starting with the Khutbah before the prayer on Eid”. So Abu Saeed Alkhidri said “this man has fulfilled his duty” and then he narrated the above hadith.

If we don’t change the wrong we see around us, then we are in danger of being punished by Allah for neglecting this obligation.

It is narrated that Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, made a speech and he said:

“Oh people, you are reading this verse and misinterpreting it {“O you who believe! take care of your own souls; no hurt can come to you from those who go astray if you are guided”} and I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say “if the people see the wrong and they do not change it, Allah will cover them with a punishment from him””. (Recorded by Ibn Maja, Ahmad, Tirmizi, and others; Authenticated by Al-Albani)

If a person has the audacity to commit a sin in public without feeling any shame, then why is it hard for us to say the truth and forbid the evil? Why when we see a person whom Allah blamed, then we do not say about him what Allah has said about him? Has our level of Iman gotten that low? Or is it the fear of how people might react?

The companion Ubadah bin Assamit may Allah be pleased with him reported:

“We swore allegiance to the messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to say what was right wherever we were, and not to fear from anyone’s reproach.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

When we see some one doing wrong, we should not say “who am I to judge” and keep quiet, and when some one gives us advice to fear Allah and correct the wrong we are doing, we should not say “who are you to judge me?!” This is something that Allah does not like.

Giving other people advice when we see them doing something wrong is very important and one of the basic foundations of Islam. It is narrated on the authority of Tamim ad-Dari that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Al-Deen is a name of sincerity and well wishing. Upon this we said: For whom? He replied: For Allah, His Book, His Messenger and for the leaders and the general Muslims.” (Sahih Muslim, Book #001, Hadith #0098)

Many of us have become reluctant to give our fellow Muslims advice when we see them doing something wrong because unfortunately, many Muslims don’t take advice well anymore.

Imam Abdullah bin Almubarak (who died year 181 Hijri) may Allah have mercy on him, was asked “is there anyone left to give (people) advice?!” and so he replied “do you know anyone who accepts (advice)?”

If that was the case back then, centuries and centuries ago, then what about our times? Why has it become hard for us to accept advice? Why do we take things so personally? Correct me if I am wrong here, but our main goal in life as Muslims is to go to Jannah (Heaven) right? So we should help each other out to do good and stay away from the bad to be able to achieve our goal. None of us is perfect, and we all have our own sins and shortcomings, and that is exactly why we need each other to be able to stay on the right path.

“The Believers, men and women, are guardians of each other: they enjoin what is good, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise.” (Surah Al Tawbah 9:71)

“And help one another in goodness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and transgression.” (Surah Al Ma’idah 5:2)

That is how we should be, looking out for each other, making sure that we are doing good deeds and staying away from doing wrong. None of us believes until we love for our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters what we love for ourselves. We love for ourselves Jannah, so we should also love it for them too, and that is why we should enjoin the good on one another and forbid the evil to help each other get to Jannah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded us to give victory to our fellow Muslims when they are oppressed, and if they are oppressing then we should stop them and that would be like giving them victory. This includes when we see a Muslim oppressing himself by doing wrong or sinning, we give him victory by giving him advice and helping him stop the wrong that he is doing.

“And continue to remind, for surely the reminder benefits the believers.” (Surah Al Dhariyat 51:55)

By forbidding the evil and giving others advice, it also helps us become better Muslims. If you are struggling with trying to stop doing something that you know is wrong, like usury for example, then if you start telling other people that usury is Haram and that they should stop practicing it, this will help you stop as well (even on small interests that one receives on their bank account), because if you don’t, then that will make you look like a hypocrite, and no one wants to be a hypocrite. So you also benefit from giving other people sincere advice.

Now, before we all go out to enjoin the good and forbid the evil and give each other advice, we should learn the proper way to do so according to the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

“Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in the best and most gracious manner.” (Surah Al Nahl 16:125)

Allah tells the Prophet (peace be upon him), and us, that we should not be harsh and rough because that turns people away.

“Thus it is due to mercy from Allah that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough or harsh-hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you.” (Surah Al ‘Imran 3:159)

Therefore we should be gentle with each other, and give sincere advice in the best of manners with softness and gentleness.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Allah is gentle and loves gentleness in all matters.” (Sahih Bukhari, Book #75, Hadith #404)

“Then speak to him (to Pharoah) a gentle word, that he may heed or fear.” (Surah Ta Ha 20:44)

If Allah ordered Musa and Harun (peace be upon them), to be gentle when reminding an oppressor such as Pharoah who has transgressed all boundaries, then what about our own Muslim brothers and sisters? We should be very gentle and kind when giving them advice, and in all our affairs with them.
Our aim should not be to go around looking for people who are doing wrong or to wait for a specific brother or sister and watch their every move waiting for them to slip and do something wrong so we can forbid the evil. We should forbid the evil if we see it or encounter it as we go about our own business, but we should never follow other people’s faults purposefully.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“O you who believe with your tongues, yet Iman has not entered your hearts. Do not backbite the Muslims, nor follow their faults. For he who follows others’ faults, then Allah will follow his faults, and he whom Allah follows his faults, then Allah will reveal them and disgrace him even if he is in his own house.” (Recorded by Abu Dawud)

We should also try to give people excuses in some cases where appearances could be misleading, and we should investigate the matter before making assumptions. For example when the man entered the masjid and sat down while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was giving a Khutbah, the Prophet only ordered him to get up and pray 2 rak’ats after he had asked him whether he prayed or not, and the man answered that he did not pray yet, so then the Prophet ordered him to pray. We should never jump to conclusions and investigate the matter further, unless things are very clear and obvious and can not have any other explanation.

Although the general rule with enjoining the good, forbidding the evil, and giving advice is to be soft and gentle, however, there are always exceptions where a little bit of harshness might be needed to have an effect on some people.

That is why Ibn Taymiyah said:

“The believer to a believer is like hands washing each other, and the dirt might not come off except with a little bit of harshness, but the result of this of cleanliness and softness which we like, only comes with this harshness.” (Majmu’ Alfatawa)

Please note that he was describing the believers, so not everyone might accept advice that is given with a little bit of harshness, and some might be very sensitive about it. It takes a believer who is humble and does not have a big ego to accept this advice and thank Allah that one of his fellow Muslims cares enough about him to take the trouble and give him advice to help him become a better Muslim.

Here are some examples from the Sunnah of how Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised people, many times being gentle and soft, while some times being a bit harsh.
Abu Huraira may Allah be pleased with him narrated that:

“While we were sitting with the Prophet a man came and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I have been ruined.” Allah’s Apostle asked what was the matter with him. He replied “I had sexual intercourse with my wife while I was fasting.” Allah’s Apostle asked him, “Can you afford to manumit a slave?” He replied in the negative. Allah’s Apostle asked him, “Can you fast for two successive months?” He replied in the negative. The Prophet asked him, “Can you afford to feed sixty poor persons?” He replied in the negative. The Prophet kept silent and while we were in that state, a big basket full of dates was brought to the Prophet . He asked, “Where is the questioner?” He replied, “I (am here).” The Prophet said (to him), “Take this (basket of dates) and give it in charity.” The man said, “Should I give it to a person poorer than I? By Allah; there is no family between its (i.e. Madinah’s) two mountains who are poorer than I.” The Prophet smiled till his pre-molar teeth became visible and then said, ‘Feed your family with it.” (Sahih Bukhari, Book #31, Hadith #157)

So here is a man that came to the Prophet after committing a sin, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) ended up smiling and giving him food for his family. There have been many instances when the Prophet was gentle and not harsh for example when the Bedouin Arab urinated in the masjid, or when one of the companions talked during prayer one time, and in both cases the Prophet (peace be upon him) addressed them gently and was not harsh with them.

One important thing is to always give people hope of Allah’s mercy and glad tidings that Allah will forgive them if they sincerely repent and do good. It is a very dangerous thing to say that someone will not be forgiven or that they are going to Hell because they have done many major sins.
Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) stated that a person said:

“Allah would not forgive such and such (person). Thereupon Allah the Exalted and Glorious, said: Who is he who adjures about Me that I would not grant pardon to so and so; I have granted pardon to so and so and blotted out his deeds (who took an oath that I would not grant pardon to him).”  (Sahih Muslim, Book #032, Hadith #6350)

The take home message from this article is that we should enjoin the good, forbid the evil, gently give other people sincere advice when we see them do wrong, humbly accept advice when it is offered to us without taking things personally, and try to improve ourselves and work on our flaws so that we can become better Muslims, and therefore a better Ummah as a whole.

Allah knows best.