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Ways to address evil behaviour in another person

Question

I am a student and when I am in school, I often see an ill-mannered student badmouthing another well-mannered student. I thought about asking him to stop doing that. Is this the correct thing to do? Is there another way to handle this situation?

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.

You have done well by thinking of talking to this person who harms the other whom you describe as well-mannered. You have to do your utmost to stop his unjust behaviour. In this regard, it was narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, commanded a Muslim to keep his Muslim brother triumphant, regardless of whether he is an oppressor or oppressed. When he was asked about what that means, he replied that keeping an oppressor triumphant means to stop his oppression. [Al-Bukhari]

As for the way you should talk to him, you have to advise him using both wisdom and good words. You have to adopt a lenient approach, not a harsh one, choose a suitable time and place, and remind him of the Last Day and similar things that the situation deems necessary.

Allaah Knows best.

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