Is it right to tell something to do something when you don`t do it yourself.?

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Aslam-u-alaykum

 

My question is that is it right to tell something to do something when you don`t do it yourself.? e.g like if i don`t read salat i shouldn`t tell others to do it because i have no right. i`ve read that it is considered a sin.

 

secondly, is it ok to say someone happy birthday or happy anniversary. i don`t celebrate my birthday but is it ok to just wish someone on their birthday. in just plain words happy birthday or would that be wrong to

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Say but dont do deeds

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Your Question: My question is that is it right to tell something to do something when you don`t do it yourself.? e.g like if i don`t read salat i shouldn`t tell others to do it because i have no right. i`ve read that it is considered a sin.

Knowledge, good deeds, and its propagation can be categorized in three categories:

  1. One who learns knowledge, sincerely believes it is the truth, implements it upon himself, and also teaches and guides others towards good deeds: such a person is obviously the best of the three categories.
  2. One who learns knowledge, believes it to be the truth, guides others towards good deeds, but due to his short-comings is not able to implement it upon himself: such a person is second-best of the three categories.
  3. One who despises and abhors knowledge, believes it to be useless and a falsehood; not only does he not implement it upon himself, but ardently stops others from doing good deeds….such a person is the worst of the three categories!

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) related a very interesting similitude regarding this subject:

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.79 Narrated by Abu Musa

The Prophet (saws) said, "The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And) another portion of it was hard and held the rain water and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation of the land for cultivation. (And) a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then that land gave no benefits). The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah's religion and gets benefit (from the knowledge) which Allah has revealed through me (the Prophet (saws)) and learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allah's guidance revealed through me (He is like that barren land.)"

 

In the above similitude, the first person is like the earth over which rain falls, and it absorbs the rain, grows vegetation which benefits himself and others…the person absorbs the knowledge, and does good deeds which benefit him and others. 

 

The second person is like the earth over which rain falls, and it does not absorb the rain but holds the water, through which others benefit….the person does not benefit himself through the implementation of the knowledge, but propagates it to others who benefit from it.

 

The last person is like that useless earth over which rain falls, but it is neither able to absorb it nor hold its water for others to benefit….this person neither benefits himself nor others!

 

Your Question: My question is that is it right to tell something to do something when you don`t do it yourself.? e.g like if i don`t read salat i shouldn`t tell others to do it because i have no right. i`ve read that it is considered a sin.

The issue with not doing a good deed oneself, but advising or guiding others to do it is that one’s advice and guidance will not have the desired effect on the people being taught.  But if one does the good deed himself, and then guides others to do the same, his guidance and teaching will obviously hold much more weight. 

 

Your Question: . i`ve read that it is considered a sin.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 61 Surah Saff verses 2-3:

2        O ye who believe! Why say ye that which ye do not?

3        Grievously odious is it in the Sight of Allah that ye say that which ye do not.

 

If one sincerely believes an act to be a good deed, and wishes to do it, but due to some reason or short-coming he is not able to bring himself to do it….but accepting and declaring his own weakness in doing it, guides others towards it….it would not be a sin in the Sight of Allah.

 

But if one does not do the good deed himself, but guides other towards it giving an impression to others that he is the absolute foremost in doing good deeds….then indeed such hypocrisy would be a sin in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

 

Your Question: secondly, is it ok to say someone happy birthday or happy anniversary. i don`t celebrate my birthday but is it ok to just wish someone on their birthday. in just plain words happy birthday or would that be wrong to.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.780         Narrated by Nafi

Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "Do the opposite of what the pagans do!”

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4020  Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘He who copies any people is one of them.’

 

Celebrating birthdays or anniversaries, or commemorating death-days is a culture of and specific to the pagans….and it would not behove and befit one who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to copy, imitate, or be a witness or accomplice to an act which is specific to the disbelievers.

 

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws),   one can be assured of never ever being misled;   but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.  

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

 

 

CULTURE OF THE PAGANS….DOES NOT BEHVE TO IMMITATE…TO WISH THEM IS TO BE A WITNESS TO A FALSEHOOD……

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 
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