Putting a stop to munkaraat

Fatwa, Manners & Etiquette, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen 3 February 20175 March 2017 Abu 'Abdullaah

Reference: Fataawa Noor ‘alad-Darb – Question No.6421, Page 249, Volume 12

Question: Is the presence of someone in a gathering where reprehensible acts are going on considered prohibited?

Response: Yes. It is not permissible for a person to remain in a gathering where reprehensible acts are going on, unless he is able to put a stop to them; so [in this case] he is obliged to remain there until he has put a stop to them. If, however, he is unable to put a stop to them, then he is obliged to leave the gathering, because Allaah (Tabaaraka wa Ta’aala) says:

{And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them.}, soorah an-Nisaa, aayah 140

…meaning that if you remain, you will be considered like them and share in their sin.

So it is obligatory upon him to put a stop to the reprehensible act – to the best of his ability, as the Prophet ﷺ said:

«Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand [by taking action]; if he is unable, then with his tongue [by speaking out]; and if he is unable, then with his heart [by at least hating it and believing it is wrong], and that is the weakest [level] of faith.» – Saheeh Muslim

And it is absolutely not possible to detest it with the heart while remaining in the gathering, because to detest it with the heart [only] amounts to disliking the reprehensible act, while he should leave the gathering if he is unable to put a stop it.

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He is a graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having graduated from the Institute of Arabic Language, and later the Faculty of Sharee'ah in 2004. He currently resides in Birmingham, UK.

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