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Wa `Alaykum as Salaam
Yaa Akhee, if a person falls into open sins, then he is to be admonished and advised, and ordered with the fear of Allaah. Also, the avenues should be taken that will possibly make him stop, such as asking those who are close to him to advise him and so on.
Patience should be had towards him when admonishing and advising him, but to the degree that it becomes clear that he shows no remorse or regret and persists upon his fisq. At this point, the issue of boycotting is to be considered and evaluated. If it will result in good, such that he feels the pressure and is forced to return, then it can be resorted to. And if it will result in evil, and will push him further away, then it should be avoided, and you should continue advising and admonishing him. The results and effects of a boycott are evaluated in light of that persons character and the particular situation at hand, and the persons general strength or weakness in Imaan.
Generally speaking, one should no be harsh upon the sinners, but should be merciful to them and we should aid them in overcoming their souls and their desires. It might be the case that in particular instances, due to the specific personality and character of the person in question, being harsh might work and produce results. However, gentleness is the starting point.
So we warn from the sin in any case, but we treat the people who fall into it with a view to helping them come out of it.
To illustrate, you might have a strong Muslim, who has been upon the deen for long, and he falls into something of open sin. It might be appropriate to censure him and to rebuke him for that sin he fell into and caution from the sin, and being rebuked should shake him and realise the gravity of what he has done. However, there maybe another Muslim who is not that strong, and his general Imaan and knowledge is weak, so with him you are gentle and explain that the sin is forbidden and so on, but you would not rebuke him, like you would the first, because it might weaken his Imaan further.
The Messenger (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) forbade the Sahaabah from cursing the man who was a habitual drinker, and described him as one who loves Allaah and His Messenger. However, he said to another Sahaabee, "You are a man in whom there is Jaahiliyyah", when he displayed something of that. Likewise, the Messenger when seeing that the people would fall into certain affairs, he would say within his sermon "Why is it that the people do such and such", without mentioning those specific people, so this was an indirect way of admonishing them.
In any case, wisdom is what is required, and you look at the results of your actions in trying to correct this person.
Allaah knows best.
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.-=abu.iyaad=-.
-=amjad bin muhammad rafiq=-
--as.salafi--
This message was edited by abu.iyaad on 7-2-03 @ 8:11 PM
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