Q: We received a letter from Kuwait in which the sender is complaining from his Muslim brother who is committing sins. Despite advising him, he started committing these sins openly and the inquirer wants to know what he should do.
A: It is the duty of Muslims to advise one another, cooperate in virtuousness and piety and exhort one another to truth and patience. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Help you one another in AlBirr and AtTaqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment. He (Glorified be He) also says: By Al'Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss, Except those who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (AlMa'ruf) which Allâh has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (AlMunkar which Allâh has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allâh's Cause during preaching His religion of Islâmic Monotheism or Jihâd). Further, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Religion is sincerity!" They said, "To whom, O Messenger of Allah?" He (peace be upon him) answered, "To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and the Imams (leaders) of Muslims and their common people." (Related by Muslim in his Sahih [Authentic Hadith Book])These Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) and Hadith stress the obligation of advising one another, helping one another in goodness and exhorting one another to the Truth. Therefore, if a Muslim finds their brother neglecting any of the duties that Allah has laid upon him or committing a prohibited act, they should advise him, enjoin good and forbid evil with the aim of having a better society full of goodness and free from evil. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people) AlMa'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid (people) from AlMunkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Anyone of you who sees an evil action, let them change it with their hand (by taking action); if they cannot, then with their tongue (by speaking out); and if they cannot, then with their heart (by hating it and feeling that it is wrong); and that is the weakest of Iman (faith). (Related by Muslim in his Sahih)Dear questioner, since you have advised your Muslim brother and guided him to the Right Path but he still insists on committing sins openly, you should abandon him and not take him as your friend. You should encourage others who may have an influence on him or whom he respects more to advise him and invite him to Allah, maybe he will be guided. However, if you find that abandoning him makes him commit more sins whereas being in contact with him deters him and is better for his religion, do not abandon him. Basically, abandonment is meant as a remedy and if the remedy increases the illness, drop it and keep on advising him, enjoining good and forbidding evil without taking him as a companion or a close friend, may Allah bring benefit by it. This is the best opinion given by Muslim scholars (may Allah be merciful to them all) in this regard.