ANSWERED: Giving salams to the openly disobedient

[Ansari]

:salam:


http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00002394.aspx

Imam al-Haskafi al-Hanafi (Allah have mercy on him) states:

“It is disliked (Makruh) to give Salams to the openly disobedient, and if he is not openly disobedient, it will not be disliked”

Some scholars have declared that there is nothing wrong with a muslim if he advoids salaam with a person who is not wearing a beard.

Can someone please tell me how this is not riyya/pride? Isnt it a sin to think like that.

Isnt this a feeling of superiority over others.

Isnt it wrong when you think you're superior than someone else. Wouldnt it be wrong when you think that you are greater than someone else...or is it ok when you feel blessed that Allah has saved you from a particular sin, which you see in someone else.

ps. In Ihya ulum-id-din it is mentioned that Abu yazid said: So long as there is this thought in one's mind that others are worse than him, he can be called a proud man.

[auron]

pride is haram but i think somepeople overlook a lot of mistakes or jahalah calling it sabr.i feel correcting people kindly and with best intention should be a habit otherwise sheikhs sahabah etc wouldnt tell off people.one must at least feel the urge to speak the truth.

[Muawiyah]

Is it always wrong to imagine yourself superior to others? I think we can feel superior to others in somethings, the zikr upon seeing an afflicted person is:



الحمد لله الذي عافاني مما ابتلاك به وفضلني على كثير ممن خلق تفضيلا


All praise is due to Allah who saved me from what He has afflicted you with and He has favored me above many of his creation

[al-Shami]

The article says you can give Salaam, or not, depending on which is more effective in leading people back to the right path. The aim isn't to show pride or superiority to another except in piety and good action.

The truth is superior to falsehood. Arrogance and nafs, shouldn't enter into it.

I think basicly intention is important. The article does specificially mention "save us from pride and arrogance". If the act is done in a prideful manner, rather than one brother/sister assisting another, then it is done for selfish reasons and not in a spirt of asisting another. Which is pretty far from the intention of not giving sallam.

[eat-halal guy]

The spirit behind the statement quoted in the question is evident in the explanation in the same article:


However, at times, the one from whom Salam is avoided may feel very offended, thus lead to hatred, enmity, hostility and the breach of many other Islamic injunctions. At times, this also leads to disgracing and severely humiliating the other person.

Therefore, if this is the case, then one should give Salams on the basis that he/she is after all a believer. This will create love, mercy, and compassion between the Muslims, give a chance to advice others, provide an opportunity to invite the openly disobedient to the right path, prevent enmity and hatred amongst Muslims and save us from pride and arrogance.

If there is a situation where a particular Muslim is involved in sinning openly, and there is a very high possibility that he will abstain from his evil ways if giving him Salams is avoided, then you may avoid giving Salams.

However, this should not be a general thing; especially when there may be a risk that the sinful person may leave Islam altogether due to being alienated by other Muslims. This will help create a healthier atmosphere between the Muslims especially in these times of trails and tribulations.

http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00002394.aspx


If it is done with a feeling of pride and superiority, then it would be wrong. If done without pride, but instead with the intention of making the person realize his/her mistake and with the hope of correction (if it's possible that the person will change as a result of this), then it would be OK.

Allah knows best.

Wassalam,
Ziad