Introduction
This chapter is about another very important part of Tableegh, which, through a little carelessness of those doing Tableegh, can cause much harm instead of good. For instance, when trying to stop someone from sins, or save him from a bad habit, you should advise him secretly and not openly disgrace him. The respect and honour of a Muslim is very valuable as explained in the following Ahaadith of Rasulullah ﷺ :
Translation: It has been reported by Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ that Rasulullah ﷺ said: “Whoever hides the sins of a Muslim, Allah Ta’ala will hide his sins in this world and in the hereafter, and Allah helps His servant so long as he helps his Muslim brother.”
Translation: رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا that Rasulullah ﷺ said: “Whoever hides the faults of a Muslim brother. Allah will hide his faults on the Day of Qiyaamah, and whoever will tell others about the faults of his Muslim brother, Allah will inform others about his faults, so much so that he will be disgraced sitting in his own house.”
There are many other Ahaadith on this subject. Therefore, people who call towards Allah Ta’ala should always hide the faults and protect the respect of our brothers in Islam. Another Hadith says: “Whoever does not help his Muslim brother when he is being disgraced, Allah Ta’ala will not worry about him when he is in need of help.” Yet another Hadith says: “The worst form of interest is disgracing a Muslim.” In many Ahaadith, the disrespecting of a Muslim has been made haraam. Those doing Tableegh should be very cautious in this regard. The correct method is to advise people secretly on the sins that we come to know secretly and openly advise those on the sins that they commit openly. However, advice should be given in such a way that the sinner is not disgraced, otherwise the advice will have the opposite effect. In short, the sinners must be corrected according to the command of Allah Ta’ala, but let us not forget the instruction of respecting every Muslim. The person doing Tableegh must be polite and kind when speaking to people. Bad manners and bad words have the opposite effect. Adopting a soft approach is also from the etiquettes of Tableegh. A person once spoke harshly to the Khalifah Ma’moon Ar-Rasheed while advising him. The Khalifah said: “Please be polite and kind to me because Fir’aun was a worse person than me, and Hadhrat Musa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ was a much better person than you. When Hadhrat Musa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ and Hadhrat Haroon عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ were sent to advise Fir’aun, Allah Ta’ala commanded them:
Translation: “Speak to him in soft words so that he may turn to the Right Path, or maybe he will fear Me!” (Surah Tahaa - Aayah: 44)
A youth from an outlying area came to Rasulullah ﷺ and said: “Please allow me to commit adultery.” The Sahaabah of Rasulullah ﷺ took this very badly and were angry at his words; but Rasulullah ﷺ asked him: “Come nearer to me. Would you like anyone to commit adultery with your mother?” He replied: “Not at all.” Rasulullah ﷺ then said: “Other people will also never tolerate such a shameful act with their mothers.” Then Rasulullah ﷺ asked him the same question about his daughter, sister, aunt, etc., and each time he answered in the negative. Then Rasulullah ﷺ put his hand on the youth’s chest and made dua: “O Allah! Purify his heart, forgive his sins, and guard him against adultery.” The reporters say that, after this, nothing was more hateful to him than adultery. In short, one should employ the means of dua, advice, softness, etc. when advising or correcting someone. One should think to himself that, “If I was in such a position, how would I like someone to advise or correct me.”