Ta'lim : Part XIV

Ibn Mas’ood Radiyallah hu anhu (ra) reported that the Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) said: “The decline and fall of Bani Israel started when the pious among them saw certain sins being committed by the transgressors, they forbade them from doing the same; but when the sinner did not repent, the pious because of the relationship and friendship continued to mix with them. So, when this state of affairs began to prevail, Allah caused their hearts to be accursed in the same manner.” (i.e. the hearts were also affected with the disobedience of the transgressors). Then in support of this, the Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) recited a verse of the Holy Qur’an, which says: ‘The disobedient and the transgressors among the Bani Israel were accursed by Allah swt.’ On this, Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) emphatically instructed his Companions:”(to avoid such decline) you people must enjoin upon others to do good deeds and prevent them from doing forbidden things; you should restrain ecery tyrant from tyranny and invite him towards truth and justice.”
Another hadith says Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) was reclining comfortably when, suddenly overcome with emotion, he sat and said: “I swear by Allah that you people cannot attain salvation, unless you prevent the tyrants from tyranny.” Nowadays it is considered a virtue to be at peace with all, and to please everyone on every occasion. They say it is a requirement of good manners with the evil doers.
Obviously, this is a wrong policy, because at most there may be some religious sanction for keeping quiet in extreme case, but never for falling in line with the tyrants and transgressors. At the very least, every one must instruct those people to do good whom he easily can influence, for instance: his subordinates, his servants, his wife, his children, and his relations. In such circumstances, to be absolutely silent about religious work is unpardonable before Allah swt.
Hadhrat Sufyaan ATThowri says: “Whoever is very popular with his relations and neighbors, we suspect him to be comprising in preaching the true teachings of religion.”
Numerous traditions say that when a sin is committed secretly, its harm is generally limited to the sinner only; but when sin is committed openly, and those possessing the capability do not prevent it, then it ultimately affects all the people around.