Q: I observe the five obligatory daily Prayers in the Masjid but my friend who performs Salah (prayer) regularly listens to songs, his clothes hang below the ankles, and his house contains a big image on the wall. When I told him that these things are Haram (prohibited), he said that Allah (Exalted be He) forgives all sins except Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). What should I do with him, bearing in mind that he knows that these things are prohibited and has read many books on that? What is the religious ruling on the person who sees an evil act but does not advise its doer? Please, advise. May Allah reward you the best!
A: A Muslim should not sit with such a man, because he persists in sins openly. It is not valid that he uses as evidence what Allah (Exalted be He) says: Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills That is because it is not permissible for the Muslim to commit sins depending on this Ayah (Qur'anic verse). Perhaps, Allah (Exalted be He) will not forgive him or he will be deprived of forgiveness and his heart is stamped as punishment for his persistence in sins, aggression, negligence, and disobedience to Allah (Exalted be He) who ordered him to give up sins and perform his duties.
A Muslim should advise his Muslim brother when he sees him doing evil or knows that he does it. Allah (may He be Praised) says: Help you one another in AlBirr and AtTaqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety) 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: Religion is based on advising one another. Upon this, we said: For whom? He replied: For Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and for all Muslims, leaders and commons. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever, among you, sees something abominable should rectify it with his hand. If he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue. If he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart and that is the least of Faith." Related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith.
Allah is the Cherisher of success.