4. Warning and Advising the Muslims against Evil

There are several perspectives to this, of which one is: Declaring someone unreliable in the field of narrating hadith and giving testimony. This is permissible to do, according to the ljmaa' (consensus of the Muslim scholars). Rather, it becomes obligatory due to its necessity. Another case is when an individual desires to enter into a relationship with another person either through marriage, business, the consignment of property, the consigning of something to him or any other of the daily affairs. It is obligatory on you to mention to that individual what you know about the person he wants to get involved with, with the intention of advising him. If your objective can be achieved by simply saying: "It is not good for you to engage with him in business transactions" or "in a relationship through marriage" or by saying: "You should not do this" or anything similar to that, then adding more to this, such as by mentioning his bad characteristics is not permissible. And if the objective cannot be reached, except by specifically explaining that person's condition to him, then you may mention that to him in detail. (37] Narrated by Aa'ishah ~ : "Hind (bint 'Utba) said to the Prophet ~ ' "Abu Sufyan is a miserly man and I need to take some money of his wealth." The Prophet ~ said: "Take reasonably what is sufficient for you and your children." (Bukhaaree) Guarding the Tongue Another case is when you see someone buying a product from an individual who is known for stealing or fornicating or drinking or other than these. It is then upon you to inform the buyer of this, on the count that he is not knowledgeable of it already. And this case is not specified to this example only. Rather, it also applies when you have knowledge that the commodity that is being traded is defective. It is then obligatory upon you to clarify this matter to the buyer, if he does not know of it. Another case is when you see a student going to an innovator or a deviant, seeking to attain knowledge from him, and you fear that may affect the student. In that situation, you must advise him about the condition of that innovator, on the condition that your intention only be for the sake of advising. And this is something in which regard many people fall into error, for perhaps the person speaking may do this (advising) because he is jealous (of the person he is warning against). Or perhaps the Devil may deceive him about this matter, causing him to believe that what he is doing is advising and showing compassion, so he believes this. One last case is when a person has some leadership role, which he does not fulfil properly either because he is not fit for it or because he is a sinner or neglectful, etc. So in this case, one must mention this to those who have general leadership over this person, so that he can be removed and someone fit can be put in charge. Or those who have charge over him can know this about him so that they can deal with him accordingly and not be deceived by him, and so that they can make the right efforts to encourage him to be upright or to replace him.1381 [38] Narrated by Jabir bin Samura ~ : "The People of Kufa complained against Sa'd ~ to 'Umar ~ and the latter dismissed him and appointed 'Ammar ~ as their chief . They lodged many complaints againstSa'd and even they alleged that Golden Advice Series 04