WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:09.089 The story of Yusuf, peace be upon him, with the wife of al-Aziz. 00:00:09.089 --> 00:00:15.779 “O Joseph! Turn away from this, and thou, (O woman), ask forgiveness for thy sin. Lo! thou art of the faulty.” (12:29) 00:00:15.779 --> 00:00:20.780 After al-Aziz became certain that his wife had attempted to seduce Yusuf, peace be upon him, 00:00:20.780 --> 00:00:24.780 he asked Yusuf to conceal the matter and not expose him, 00:00:24.780 --> 00:00:28.780 saying to him: "Yusuf, disregard this." 00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:31.780 Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:00:31.780 --> 00:00:37.780 "He was saying: Refrain from mentioning what she did toward you in trying to seduce you, 00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:40.780 and do not speak of it to anyone." 00:00:40.780 --> 00:00:46.060 Indeed, the principle of concealing the faults of the wrongdoer is a legitimate legal principle intended to reform both the individual and society. 00:00:46.060 --> 00:00:51.060 For this reason, the Shariah has come urging the concealment of a Muslim's faults. 00:00:51.060 --> 00:00:55.159 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:00:55.159 --> 00:00:59.159 "And whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults on the Day of Resurrection." 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:03.219 He, peace and blessings be upon him, also said: 00:01:03.219 --> 00:01:09.219 "Whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim in this world, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter." 00:01:09.219 --> 00:01:16.480 When the Prophet, peace be upon him, carried out the prescribed punishment of stoning upon Ma'iz after he had committed adultery, 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:21.480 and Ma'iz felt the pain of the stoning, he fled. 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:26.480 Hazzal then encountered him and struck him with an object he had, killing him. 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:30.480 The Prophet, peace be upon him, denounced his action. 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:34.579 Nu'aym ibn Hazzal al-Aslami relates 00:01:34.579 --> 00:01:39.579 that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said regarding Ma'iz when he fled: 00:01:39.579 --> 00:01:45.579 "Why did you not let him be? Perhaps he would have repented and Allah would have accepted his repentance." 00:01:45.579 --> 00:01:49.670 And the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: 00:01:49.670 --> 00:01:56.670 "O Hazzal, had you concealed him with your garment, it would have been better for you than what you did." 00:01:56.670 --> 00:01:59.670 It was narrated by al-Bayhaqi in *al-Sunan al-Kubra*. 00:01:59.670 --> 00:02:06.829 The Companions applied this principle practically during the lifetime of the Prophet, peace be upon him. 00:02:06.829 --> 00:02:09.830 An example of this is what Abu al-Yusr narrated: 00:02:09.830 --> 00:02:13.830 He said: "A woman came to me to purchase dates, 00:02:13.830 --> 00:02:17.830 so I told her, 'Inside the house there are dates better than these.' 00:02:17.830 --> 00:02:19.830 She entered the house with me, 00:02:19.830 --> 00:02:22.830 and I leaned toward her and kissed her. 00:02:22.830 --> 00:02:26.830 I then went to Abu Bakr and mentioned that to him. 00:02:26.830 --> 00:02:30.830 He said, 'Conceal your fault, repent, 00:02:30.830 --> 00:02:32.830 and tell no one.' 00:02:32.830 --> 00:02:34.830 But I could not bear it, 00:02:34.830 --> 00:02:36.830 so I went to 'Umar and mentioned it to him. 00:02:36.830 --> 00:02:40.830 He said, 'Conceal your fault, repent, 00:02:40.830 --> 00:02:42.830 and tell no one.' 00:02:42.830 --> 00:02:44.830 But I could not bear it, 00:02:45.830 --> 00:02:50.830 so I went to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and mentioned it to him. 00:02:50.830 --> 00:02:57.830 He said, 'Is this how you treat the family of a warrior fighting in the cause of Allah in his absence?' 00:02:57.830 --> 00:03:02.830 until the man wished he had not embraced Islam until that very hour, 00:03:02.830 --> 00:03:05.830 and until he thought he was certainly among the people of the Fire. 00:03:05.830 --> 00:03:11.860 He said: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, kept his head down for a long time, 00:03:11.860 --> 00:03:13.860 until Allah revealed to him: 00:03:13.860 --> 00:03:18.860 'And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night... 00:03:18.860 --> 00:03:22.860 “Establish worship at the two ends of the day and in some watches of the night. Lo! good deeds annul ill-deeds. This is reminder for the mindful.” (11:114) 00:03:22.860 --> 00:03:25.860 That is a reminder for those who remember.' 00:03:25.860 --> 00:03:27.960 Abu al-Yusr said: 00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:33.960 'I came to him, and the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, recited it to me.' 00:03:33.960 --> 00:03:35.960 His companions asked: 00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:36.960 'O Messenger of Allah, 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:40.960 is this specifically for him, or for all people generally?' 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:43.960 He replied: 'Rather, it is for all people generally.'" 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:45.960 It was narrated by al-Tirmidhi. 00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:50.340 Allah has forbidden Muslims from spreading immorality, 00:03:50.340 --> 00:03:52.340 for the Exalted said: 00:03:52.340 --> 00:03:58.340 “Lo! those who love that slander should be spread concerning those who believe, theirs will be a painful punishment in the world and the Hereafter. Allah knoweth. Ye know not.” (24:19) 00:03:58.340 --> 00:04:02.340 “Lo! those who love that slander should be spread concerning those who believe, theirs will be a painful punishment in the world and the Hereafter. Allah knoweth. Ye know not.” (24:19) 00:04:02.340 --> 00:04:06.340 "And Allah knows, while you do not know." 00:04:06.340 --> 00:04:09.379 Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:04:09.379 --> 00:04:14.379 "This is a third discipline for whoever hears any foul speech, 00:04:14.379 --> 00:04:18.379 and something of it settles in his mind and he speaks of it: 00:04:18.379 --> 00:04:22.379 he should not repeat it excessively, nor should he circulate or publicize it." 00:04:22.379 --> 00:04:29.730 Some people assume that merely mentioning an incident without naming the individuals involved is permissible, 00:04:29.730 --> 00:04:34.730 but in reality, it falls under the scope of spreading immorality among people. 00:04:34.730 --> 00:04:37.730 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Tarifi said: 00:04:37.730 --> 00:04:42.759 "Spreading immorality is forbidden even if it is true, 00:04:42.759 --> 00:04:47.759 such as someone speaking of an obscene incident among people even without naming the parties involved; 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:51.759 it is not lawful for him to do so, even if he is truthful. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:56.819 For the Shariah did not forbid spreading immorality merely because it is a lie, 00:04:56.819 --> 00:05:02.819 but rather forbade it so that souls do not grow lax regarding the gravity and hideousness of what is unlawful; 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:07.819 indeed, speaking of immorality incites desire toward it and trivializes it." 00:05:07.819 --> 00:05:11.860 Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from 'Ata' that he said: 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:16.860 "Whoever spreads immorality will incur exemplary punishment, even if he is telling the truth." 00:05:16.860 --> 00:05:22.980 The danger of circulating news of immoral acts among people, even when true, 00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:26.980 is that it emboldens those who have not committed them to do so; 00:05:26.980 --> 00:05:30.980 thus, spreading news of immoral deeds is a cause of societal corruption. 00:05:30.980 --> 00:05:33.980 Al-Tahir ibn 'Ashur, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:05:33.980 --> 00:05:38.980 "Among the disciplines taught by this verse is that the hallmark of a believer 00:05:38.980 --> 00:05:42.980 is that he loves for his fellow believers only what he loves for himself; 00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:47.980 just as he would hate for bad news about himself to be circulated, 00:05:47.980 --> 00:05:52.980 he is likewise obligated not to love the spread of evil concerning his fellow believers. 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:56.980 Furthermore, the circulation of reports of immorality among the believers— 00:05:56.980 --> 00:05:59.980 whether true or false—constitutes moral corruption. 00:05:59.980 --> 00:06:04.980 For among the things that deter people from vile acts is their awe and dread of committing them, 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:08.980 and their aversion and distaste toward the bad reputation attached to them; 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:12.980 that is what deflects their minds from even contemplating them, 00:06:12.980 --> 00:06:16.980 or gradually drawing near to them, 00:06:16.980 --> 00:06:20.980 until they are forgotten and their images are erased from souls. 00:06:20.980 --> 00:06:26.019 But when talk of immoral acts becomes widespread among the Ummah, 00:06:26.019 --> 00:06:31.019 thoughts are drawn to them, and the impact of hearing about them diminishes; 00:06:31.019 --> 00:06:35.019 complacency regarding their occurrence creeps into people's hearts, 00:06:35.019 --> 00:06:38.019 and the reports lose their shocking weight upon the ears; 00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:43.019 consequently, base souls soon dare to commit them. 00:06:43.019 --> 00:06:49.019 In proportion to their repeated occurrence and repeated discussion, they become commonplace. 00:06:49.019 --> 00:06:55.079 This is in addition to the harm and distress inflicted upon people by spreading immorality— 00:06:55.079 --> 00:07:00.079 harm varying in degree according to the varying truth or falsehood of the reports. 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:04.110 It is for this reason that this sublime discipline was concluded with His words: 00:07:04.110 --> 00:07:08.110 'And Allah knows, while you do not know.' 00:07:08.110 --> 00:07:11.110 That is, He knows the corrupting consequences inherent in that, 00:07:11.110 --> 00:07:15.110 and thus admonishes you so that you may avoid them, while you do not know, 00:07:15.110 --> 00:07:20.110 assuming that speaking of such matters entails no harm." 00:07:20.110 --> 00:07:22.110 This is similar to His saying: 00:07:22.110 --> 00:07:27.110 “When ye welcomed it with your tongues, and uttered with your mouths that whereof ye had no knowledge, ye counted it a trifle. In the sight of Allah it is very great.” (24:15) 00:07:27.110 --> 00:07:31.560 A genuine concern for the purity and wholesomeness of society 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:36.560 requires us to spread the culture of concealing the faults of the sinner and the wrongdoer, 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:39.560 in order to block the path against Satan on the one hand, 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:43.560 and open the door of repentance for the sinner on the other. 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:47.589 However, this divine legislation regarding the concealment of the wrongdoer's fault 00:07:47.589 --> 00:07:51.589 applies only to one whose sin is not habitual 00:07:51.589 --> 00:07:55.589 and who is not accustomed to openly flaunting acts of disobedience. 00:07:55.589 --> 00:08:00.589 As for the one notorious for public defiance in sin and spreading corruption on earth, 00:08:00.589 --> 00:08:04.589 his actions must be denounced through legitimate legal channels, 00:08:04.589 --> 00:08:06.589 and his matter should be brought before the judiciary— 00:08:06.589 --> 00:08:11.589 if there is an Islamic judiciary that rules by the law of Allah in his land— 00:08:11.589 --> 00:08:17.589 so that the judge may rule against him in accordance with what the pure divine Shariah dictates, 00:08:17.589 --> 00:08:22.589 disciplining, reprimanding, or openly carrying out the prescribed legal punishment against him, 00:08:22.589 --> 00:08:24.589 so that he may serve as a deterrent to whoever sees him, 00:08:24.589 --> 00:08:28.589 causing them to stay far away from such heinous acts. 00:08:28.589 --> 00:08:31.689 Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:08:31.689 --> 00:08:35.690 "Whoever is upright and not known for committing sins, 00:08:35.690 --> 00:08:38.690 if an error or a slip should happen to occur from him, 00:08:38.690 --> 00:08:43.690 it is not permissible to expose it, violate his privacy, or speak of it, 00:08:43.690 --> 00:08:46.690 because that is prohibited backbiting. 00:08:46.690 --> 00:08:50.690 And this is the category concerning which these texts were revealed." 00:08:50.690 --> 00:08:53.690 In that regard, Allah Almighty has said: 00:08:53.690 --> 00:08:59.690 “Lo! those who love that slander should be spread concerning those who believe, theirs will be a painful punishment in the world and the Hereafter. Allah knoweth. Ye know not.” (24:19) 00:08:59.690 --> 00:09:03.690 “Lo! those who love that slander should be spread concerning those who believe, theirs will be a painful punishment in the world and the Hereafter. Allah knoweth. Ye know not.” (24:19) 00:09:03.690 --> 00:09:05.690 What is meant is: 00:09:05.690 --> 00:09:09.690 spreading immorality concerning the discreet believer regarding a slip he may have made, 00:09:09.690 --> 00:09:12.690 or an accusation levied against him while he is innocent of it, 00:09:12.690 --> 00:09:14.690 as occurred in the incident of the slander (al-Ifk). 00:09:14.690 --> 00:09:19.909 A righteous vizier once said to someone enjoining good: 00:09:19.909 --> 00:09:22.909 "Strive to conceal the sinners, 00:09:22.909 --> 00:09:26.909 for the public manifestation of their sins brings shame upon the people of Islam, 00:09:26.909 --> 00:09:29.909 and the foremost of matters is to conceal shortcomings." 00:09:29.909 --> 00:09:34.299 Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Maghribi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:09:34.299 --> 00:09:37.419 "As for the one notorious for corruption and persistent in it, 00:09:37.419 --> 00:09:40.419 it is not recommended to conceal his faults; 00:09:40.419 --> 00:09:46.419 rather, his case should be brought before the authorities, provided that no greater harm is feared from doing so. 00:09:46.419 --> 00:09:51.419 This is because concealing his faults emboldens him to cause harm, spread corruption, violate sanctities, 00:09:51.419 --> 00:09:54.419 and emboldens others to commit the like of his deeds." 00:09:54.419 --> 00:09:58.419 All of this concerns concealing a sin that has occurred and concluded. 00:09:58.419 --> 00:10:03.419 As for a sin that you witness someone in the very act of committing, 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:06.419 the obligation is to hasten to denounce it 00:10:06.419 --> 00:10:09.419 and prevent it, for whoever has the capacity to do so; 00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:12.419 it is not permissible to delay this. 00:10:12.419 --> 00:10:16.419 If one is incapable, he must refer the matter to the authority, 00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:19.419 provided that no greater corruption results from doing so. 00:10:19.419 --> 00:10:24.460 Thus, scholars distinguished between one whose soul succumbed to weakness and led him into sin, 00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:28.460 and one who is accustomed to it and repeats it habitually: 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:30.460 the former's fault is to be concealed, 00:10:30.460 --> 00:10:33.460 whereas the latter's is not; 00:10:33.460 --> 00:10:38.460 rather, his case is to be dealt with in accordance with the commands of the divine Shariah. 00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:42.710 The request of al-Aziz for Yusuf, peace be upon him, to conceal the matter, 00:10:42.710 --> 00:10:47.710 even if it aligns with what the prophets call to in their methodology of calling to Allah, 00:10:47.710 --> 00:10:51.710 was flawed in terms of how al-Aziz handled the underlying problem. 00:10:51.710 --> 00:10:56.710 The issue was far greater than merely having Yusuf remain silent and not leak the news; 00:10:56.710 --> 00:11:02.710 the matter pertained to addressing a moral crime concerning honor. 00:11:02.710 --> 00:11:06.710 Therefore, asking Yusuf to cover up what had happened 00:11:06.710 --> 00:11:09.710 while leaving the status quo unchanged 00:11:09.710 --> 00:11:12.710 is not considered a sound remedy; 00:11:12.710 --> 00:11:15.710 rather, it borders on complacency with sin, 00:11:15.710 --> 00:11:17.710 or a lack of protective jealousy over one's honor, 00:11:17.710 --> 00:11:20.710 or perhaps even worse than that. 00:11:20.710 --> 00:11:27.809 In this lies a lesson for us in how we address societal developments in our present day: 00:11:27.809 --> 00:11:31.809 there are those who have gone beyond the stage of merely loving that immorality be spread, 00:11:31.809 --> 00:11:35.809 to the stage of actively spreading immorality itself, facilitating it, 00:11:35.809 --> 00:11:39.809 and calling to it through mixed gatherings 00:11:39.809 --> 00:11:42.809 and licentious concerts 00:11:42.809 --> 00:11:46.809 where young men and women mingle without modesty, 00:11:46.809 --> 00:11:50.809 alongside explicit calls to wanton display and unveiling, 00:11:50.809 --> 00:11:54.809 the abolition of every manifestation of chastity brought by the Shariah, 00:11:54.809 --> 00:11:56.809 the forbidding of what is right, 00:11:56.809 --> 00:11:59.809 and the punishing of those who forbid what is wrong. 00:11:59.809 --> 00:12:04.809 Here, one does not say: "Yusuf, disregard this." 00:12:04.809 --> 00:12:10.000 Here, one says what al-Tahir ibn 'Ashur, may Allah have mercy on him, stated: 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:16.000 He said: "He placed the threat upon merely loving the spread of immorality among the believers 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:20.000 to serve as a warning that loving such a thing warrants punishment, 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:26.000 because loving it indicates malicious intent toward the believers. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:31.000 It is the nature of such an inner disposition that its bearer will not wait long 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:34.000 before committing what he loves, 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:37.000 or rejoicing when it is committed by others. 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:43.000 'Loving' here is a metonymy for being poised to bring about what one wishes to occur, 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:48.000 and the present-tense verb was used to indicate persistence." 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:55.159 Do we then recognize those with malicious intent and corrupt inner dispositions in our societies, 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:58.159 so that we may beware of them and beware of their deeds? 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.289 To be continued; 00:13:00.289 --> 00:13:04.289 we shall resume in our next gathering, if Allah wills, 00:13:04.289 --> 00:13:10.409 the story of Yusuf with the wife of al-Aziz.