Thread by @Realoilsheikh

DO NOT BE SILENT OVER FALSEHOOD & MISGUIDANCE

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan wrote:

"...Therefore, it obligatory upon whoever knows the truth to explain it to the people and not to exchange it for a small (or big) price by concealing it in other to attain any worldly gains or for

the sake of pleasing the people. Allaah has more right that one should fear and seek His pleasure. So it is not permissible to conceal the truth for one who has the ability to explain it and make it manifest. As for one who does not have the ability to do so or he fears

that a greater fitnah may occur by explaining the truth, such a person is excused. However, whoever does not have a barrier in explaining the truth but conceals the truth for the sake of his interest & wellbeing, such a person is cursed by Allaah & cursed by those who curse. This

is the attribute of Yahood & it is applicable to everyone who conceals the truth for the sake of following desires without making it clear to the people. If he is asked about the ruling of an issue, he responds with other than the truth while he knows the correct response.

This is part of concealing the truth. Allah the Mighty and Majesty has commanded that one should speak the truth even if it is against oneself. “Be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives”

[Soorah an-Nisaa: 135]. So it is obligatory to speak the truth in giving testimonies and other than it.

Concealing the knowledge, which gives life to the people and guides them to the straight path is worse than concealing testimony.

Therefore, it is obligatory to explain the truth and not to conceal it. For instance, if a person sees the people upon falsehood or superstitions or shirk, he should not be silent; rather it is obligatory upon him to explain the truth and he should not leave the people to

engage in graves and tombs worship & to indulge in misguided innovations. He should not be silent and say I have no business with the people. Or he sees the people engaging in prohibited dealings without saying anything.

This is concealment of knowledge and lack of sincerity

to the Ummah. Allaah did not give you this knowledge in order for you to remain silent; rather He gave you in order for you make it clear to the people, invite to Allaah upon sure knowledge & make effort to bring out people from darkness into light. It is not permissible for the

scholars to be silent while they have the ability to explain the truth especially when they see people in misguidance, shirk, innovation & superstition. Silence will not do them any good. If they say nothing, this is considered concealment of knowledge which Allaah condemned the

past generations of Ahlul-Kitaab among Jews & Christians for.

Why would a person say something contrary to the truth while he knows it and deliberately issue a fatwa contrary to it in order to please the people or to get along with the people with regard to what they are upon?

The truth is more deserving of being followed; so you should seek the pleasure of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic and do not please the people while they are upon falsehood. It is stated in a hadeeth:

"Whoever seeks the pleasure of Allah at the risk of displeasing the people,

Allah will be pleased with him and the people will be pleased with him (eventually). And whoever seeks the pleasure of the people at the risk of displeasing Allah, Allah will be displeased with him and the people will be displeased with him .”

[Saheeh; Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2414].

Source: Sharh Masaa’il al-Jaahiliyyah, p. 281-284 by Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan bin ‘Abdullaah al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him).

May Allah give us the ability to say and remain with the truth even if it will displease people but in return grant us Allah's pleasure.