Question
Has the time arrived where Amar bil Ma'roof and Nahi Anil Munkur is no longer beneficial, and to abstain? Nowadays, regardless of Qur'aanic and Hadith evidences cited to prove the laws of the Shariah, one is branded a misogynist, a pedophile, a wife beater, homophobic, etc., etc. If you produce all the narrations and the fact that in Umar Radiallahu Anhu's era women were banned from the Masjid, they'll get out their western secular equality flag. And some "Muslims" don't even stop there. They report Muslims who merely state the evidences of Shari'ah to the authorities. So is it time to act on the following Ahadith: "When you see the people that their covenants have been impaired, (the fulfilling of) the guarantees become rare, and they become thus (interwining his fingers). I then got up and said: What should I do at that time, may Allah make me ransom for you? He replied: Keep to your house, control your tongue, accept what you approve, abandon what you disapprove, attend to your own affairs, and leave alone the affairs of the generality". "Behold! When the turmoil comes or it appears, the one who has camel should stick to his camel and he who has sheep or a goat should stick to his sheep and goat and he who has land should stick to the land. A person said: 'Allah's Messenger, what is your opinion about one who has neither camel nor sheep nor land? Thereupon, he said: He should take hold of his sword and beat its edge with the help of stone and then try to find a way of escape." "Soon there will come a time when the best wealth a Muslim will have will be sheep which he will take to the mountain-tops and places where rain falls, fleeing from tribulation for the sake of his Deen ."
Answer
Yes, for some people the time mentioned in the Hadith has come. If they abstain from Amr Bil Ma'roof because of real danger, not mere criticism, then they may adopt silence, sabr and dua only. Abstention from Amr Bil Ma'roof in this scenario will be permissible.
The scenario portrayed in the Hadith applies, specifically to countries such as UK and China where the law of Taaghoot is in full operation in brutal, uncivilized ways. If in UK a parent is caught telling his child that homosexuality is haraam, he is liable to be arrested and his children taken away from him. In this situation it is incumbent for Muslims to migrate from the satanic countries, UK and China.
However, where there is no fear for life or limb, and the only consequence is to be criticized, reviled and insulted, then it will not be permissible to abandon Amr Bil Ma'roof Nahi Anil Munkar. The natural and logical consequence of Amr Bil Ma'roof is to be reviled and criticized. Regarding vilification, the Qur'aan Majeed states:
"They (the People of Haqq) do not fear the insults of those who insult."
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- Al-Haq Bulletin No. 68
- PDF page
- 9
Appears under AMR BIL MA ROOF • WHEN IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO ABSTAIN! (approximate).