Mind Your Own Business

Our Shaikh, the ḥadīth: “From the [excellence] of a person’s Islām is his leaving that which does not concern him”—if this ḥadīth is authentic, then explain its meaning and rulings to us. May Allāh reward you well.

As for the well-known ḥadīth, “From the excellence of a person’s Islām is his leaving that which does not concern him,” then it is—all praise be due to Allāh—an authentic [ṣaḥīḥ] ḥadīth, comprising [guidance toward] a high level of manners, i.e., that a person should not meddle in that which does not concern him of other people’s affairs, that a Muslim should not involve himself in that which does not concern him from the affairs of other Muslims.

That is to say: he should not interfere in another person’s private matters. But this does not mean that he should not advise him or remind him if he sees him committing some sin because in this case, [the other person’s] situation is a matter of concern to him.

So we must distinguish between personal matters connected to an individual—for here, a Muslim should not intrude into his private affairs; as for if [another] Muslim were falling into sin, then it is upon a Muslim who sees this sin of his to be concerned about him and to remind him [so that he might fix himself by leaving off] his sin.

But [this reminder should be given] in the best way, as [in] the Qurʾānic principle: “Call to the [straight] path [and religion] of your Lord with wisdom and good advice, [speaking in the most fitting way, inviting to good and turning away from evil]; and present arguments to them with gentleness and in the best way.” (Al-Naḥl, 125)

And naturally, once we’ve come to know this point, [it does not mean] that when we see people innovating acts of worship that have no basis in the Book of Allāh, nor in the ḥadīths of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ—and we’ve advised them and reminded them with the like of his statement ﷺ, “Whoever introduces into this affair [i.e., this religion] of ours that which is not from it, will have it rejected,” and the like of his ﷺ statement in the well-known ḥadīth, “And beware of all newly invented matters [in the religion], for every newly invented matter is an innovation, every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire”—then [naturally] this [advising of ours] has no connection with the first ḥadīth: “From the excellence of a person’s Islām is his leaving that which does not concern him.”

That is because this [advising of ours] comes under his ﷺ statement: “The religion is being sincere to others in giving them that which is due to them; the religion is being sincere to others in giving them that which is due to them.” They said: “To whom?” He ﷺ said: “To Allāh, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims, and their common folk.”

Silsilat al-Hudá wa-l-Nūr, tape 220.