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Detesting the evil by the heart is sufficient when changing it is difficult

Question

I work in an educational institution. Every Saturday, they chant a poem which includes words contradictory to the Islamic Creed. If I denounce that, I may get fired. What should I do?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered the one who sees an evil to change it physically with his hand if he was able to do so. If he could not, he should change it by his tongue (by advising and/or condemning), and finally by (detesting it with) his heart, and he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, informed that this is the weakest level of faith. [Muslim]

If a person has knowledge of a certain obligation which people are ignorant of, he must inform them. Consequently, the questioner has to try to change this misdeed if he is able to do so, unless attempting to change it leads to a greater evil, in which case he should refrain from trying to change it. This could be done through advising the teaching staff. If he is unable to enjoin the good and forbid the evil and was able to find work elsewhere, he must leave this place, because Allaah has commanded us to shun the places where sins are committed.

However, if he can not find another job and he is in need of this job and denouncing the sin would cause him harm, then he may remain silent while detesting the evil in his heart.

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, explained that when sin is committed on earth, whoever sees it and hates it is like the one who never saw it at all; and whoever does not see it but is satisfied with it and does not detest it, is like the one who committed it. [Abu Daawood]

Allaah Knows best.

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