Silence is often praised in Islam, for the famous hadith, ‘whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or keep silent’ has become a slogan, though many times it is repeated without action, and many continue to allow their tongues to flap. And in such a situation,

it is indeed much better to remain silent, for talking often incurs sins, and as we know one bad word could land a person in the hellfire. We ask Allah to protect us.

However, there are other times, in which a person should talk, in order to ordain the good and forbid the evil.

On the authority of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree who said, I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say, “Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” (Muslim)

So one should attempt to correct the wrong he witnesses using his hands, and if he is not able to do so or it will cause a greater evil, then let him try to use his tongue. This means to speak out against it, by advising the person, or to warn about it, and remind the person engaged in the sin of its incorrectness and explain why it is wrong, remind them of the punishment of the wrong, and to remind them of the reward for leaving a wrong, and doing a good instead. The last, and lowest level of iman as categorised by the Prophet is to change it with one’s heart, and this is to believe it is wrong, to hate the wrong, to move away from the wrong, and leave it, to hate to witness the wrong.

Remember silence is often approval, and by not moving away from the wrong and disassociating oneself from it, symbolises that one accepts it. This brings me to a more specific issue, and that is witnessing one’s womenfolk behaving immorally or dressing immorally and remaining silent. Indeed, this is an affliction of our time. Family members who feel afraid to speak out against this evil, are in fact guilty.

Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet peace be upon him said, “there are three whom Allah will deprive of Paradise; the one who drinks intoxicants, the one who is disobedient to his parents and the one who accepts immoral conduct on the part of his family.”

My dear brothers and sisters, what would it take to simply say a few words to correct a family member? Our family members should be the easiest people to talk to, and we should love to correct them, for we would never want to see them being punished. If you truly love your family, then save them from the punishment of Allah, by correcting them, advising them and reminding them.

The next time your sister leaves the house without hijab, or your brother wears “short shorts,” or your dad buys shaving gel to shave his beard, or your mother purchases that magazine with indecent images, remind them. Change it with your hand. Bring your sister a hijab. Bring your brother a longer pair of pants, put the shaving gel back on the shelf, take the magazine out of the shopping basket, and if you cannot do that, or it will cause a greater commotion, then advise them privately. Do not name and shame. Explain why it is wrong, and remind them that Jannah is expensive.

“There is no person to whom Allah has given responsibility over others and he failed to take care of them by advising them sincerely, but he will never smell the fragrance of Paradise.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 6617).