Is it right to tell something to do something when you don`t do it yourself.?
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa
Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
Aslam-u-alaykum
My
question is that is it right to tell something to do something when you don`t
do it yourself.? e.g like if i don`t read salat i shouldn`t tell others to do
it because i have no right. i`ve read that it is considered a sin.
secondly,
is it ok to say someone happy birthday or happy anniversary. i don`t celebrate
my birthday but is it ok to just wish someone on their birthday. in just plain
words happy birthday or would that be wrong to
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors
in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions,
comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
confidentiality.)
Answer:
Say but dont do
deeds
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Your Question: My
question is that is it right to tell something to do something when you don`t
do it yourself.? e.g like if i don`t read salat i shouldn`t tell others to do
it because i have no right. i`ve read that it is considered a sin.
Knowledge, good deeds, and its propagation can be
categorized in three categories:
- One
who learns knowledge, sincerely believes it is the truth, implements it
upon himself, and also teaches and guides others towards good deeds: such
a person is obviously the best of the three categories.
- One
who learns knowledge, believes it to be the truth, guides others towards
good deeds, but due to his short-comings is not able to implement it upon
himself: such a person is second-best of the three categories.
- One
who despises and abhors knowledge, believes it to be useless and a
falsehood; not only does he not implement it upon himself, but ardently
stops others from doing good deeds….such a person is the worst of the
three categories!
The Messenger of Allah (saws) related a very interesting
similitude regarding this subject:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.79 Narrated by Abu Musa
The Prophet (saws) said, "The example of
guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling
on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain water and
brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And) another portion of it
was hard and held the rain water and Allah benefited the people with it and
they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and for
irrigation of the land for cultivation. (And) a portion of it was barren which
could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then that land gave no
benefits). The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah's
religion and gets benefit (from the knowledge) which Allah has revealed through
me (the Prophet (saws)) and learns and then teaches others. The last example is
that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allah's guidance
revealed through me (He is like that barren land.)"
In the above similitude, the first person is like the
earth over which rain falls, and it absorbs the rain, grows vegetation which
benefits himself and others…the person absorbs the knowledge, and does good
deeds which benefit him and others.
The second person is like the earth over which rain falls,
and it does not absorb the rain but holds the water, through which others
benefit….the person does not benefit himself through the implementation of the
knowledge, but propagates it to others who benefit from it.
The last person is like that useless earth over which rain
falls, but it is neither able to absorb it nor hold its water for others to
benefit….this person neither benefits himself nor others!
Your Question: My
question is that is it right to tell something to do something when you don`t
do it yourself.? e.g like if i don`t read salat i shouldn`t tell others to do
it because i have no right. i`ve read that it is considered a sin.
The issue with not doing a good deed oneself, but advising
or guiding others to do it is that one’s advice and guidance will not have the
desired effect on the people being taught.
But if one does the good deed himself, and then guides others to do the
same, his guidance and teaching will obviously hold much more weight.
Your Question: .
i`ve read that it is considered a sin.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 61 Surah
Saff verses 2-3:
2 O ye who believe! Why say ye that which
ye do not?
3 Grievously odious is it in the Sight of
Allah that ye say that which ye do not.
If one sincerely believes an act to be a good deed, and
wishes to do it, but due to some reason or short-coming he is not able to bring
himself to do it….but accepting and declaring his own weakness in doing it,
guides others towards it….it would not be a sin in the Sight of Allah.
But if one does not do the good deed himself, but guides
other towards it giving an impression to others that he is the absolute
foremost in doing good deeds….then indeed such hypocrisy would be a sin in the
Sight of Allah Subhanah.
Your Question:
secondly, is it ok to say someone happy birthday or happy anniversary. i don`t
celebrate my birthday but is it ok to just wish someone on their birthday. in
just plain words happy birthday or would that be wrong to.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.780 Narrated by Nafi
Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (saws)
said, "Do the opposite of what the pagans do!”
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4020 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar
The Prophet (saws) said: ‘He who copies any
people is one of them.’
Celebrating birthdays or anniversaries, or commemorating
death-days is a culture of and specific to the pagans….and it would not behove
and befit one who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to copy,
imitate, or be a witness or accomplice to an act which is specific to the
disbelievers.
If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and
commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws),
one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other
than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led
astray.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
CULTURE OF THE PAGANS….DOES NOT BEHVE TO IMMITATE…TO WISH THEM IS TO BE A WITNESS TO A FALSEHOOD……
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
Wister