Community’s responsibility

Question

Asslam Aleykum wr wb, 
I was asked by one of my friend to give her an advice and I think it's a matter where I need your help . She was telling me that in her neighborhood there is a woman who has been doing some inappropriate activities like calling different men at her house and spending time with them or going out with them and spending nights( according to my friend, I don't know anything and nor I have seen that woman). She also said that this been going on since that woman's husband was sick and than he passed away. Also those men's wives  who are visiting that woman called her and told that she should do something about it since she lives in that neighborhood.  So many other things she shared about that woman that how she took money from some people and black mailed them and never gave money back. I told my friend that I am not in a position of making judgments or decisions about this matter since it's very sensitive about ones respect and other families are involved. If you could make her understand that it's wrong and give dawa to her it's well. Or ask those wives to stop their husbands as well. My friend said that our neighborhood is getting filthy because of this. What would be your advice according to Sunnah . How one should deal this with someone like her ? What if we try done thing and it spreads more than that woman who might make tauba and I pray she realizes it , would be so hurt by others that she might feel shame all her life . I am not in position to give any advice because these are my concerns. Please advice do I can forward this to my friend so this matter will deal accordingly. may Allah SWT guide us and her to hidayat and make us stead fast on it InshaaAllah Ameen . JazakAllah Khair

Shariah Board of America · Accepted Answer

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
Prohibition of evil is an important responsibility of the Shari'ah. There is a stern warning of punishment in case of abandoning it, provided it is possible to do.
It is much better if your friend can try to persuade this woman. If there is fear of abuse or mistreatment from her, your friend will not be held responsible for that woman&rsquo;s sins.
It is better to visit that woman from time to time under the pretext of being a neighbor and
encourage her to listen to the lectures of the scholars during her free time. Encourage her also to marry again after the elapse of her &ldquo;Iddat.
An advice for the wives whose husbands visit this widow is to treat their husbands in such an affectionate and pleasing manner that their husbands stop visiting this woman, but rather find true love and devotion through their own wives, and avoid those sinful situations. This should be an important responsibility upon the wives.  
Create a religious atmosphere at home, start the process of education, arrange to listen to lectures of the renowned religious scholars and try to keep in touch with them for any questions or clarifications.  Inshallah these efforts will lead to reform, and this &ldquo;fitna&rdquo; will come to an end. 
كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ مِنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ(آلِ عمران : ۱۱۰)
مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ، وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الْإِيمَانِ(صحیح مسلم:کتاب الایمان،۷۸)
مَا مِنْ قَوْمٍ يُعْمَلُ فِيهِمْ بِالْمَعَاصِي، هُمْ أَعَزُّ مِنْهُمْ وَأَمْنَعُ، لَا يُغَيِّرُونَ، إِلَّا عَمَّهُمُ اللَّهُ بِعِقَابٍ(سنن ابن ماجۃ: کتاب الفتن،۴۰۰۹)
وَخُلَاصَةُ الْكَلَامِ: مَنْ أَبْصَرَ مَا أَنْكَرَهُ الشَّرْعُ (فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ) أَيْ: بِأَنْ يَمْنَعَهُ بِالْفِعْلِ بِأَنْ يَكْسِرَ الْآلَاتِ وَيُرِيقَ الْخَمْرَ وَيَرُدَّ الْمَغْصُوبَ إِلَى مَالِكِهِ، (فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ) أَيِ: التَّغْيِيرَ بِالْيَدِ وَإِزَالَتَهُ بِالْفِعْلِ، لِكَوْنِ فَاعِلِهِ أَقْوَى مِنْهُ (فَبِلِسَانِهِ) أَيْ: فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَتِلَاوَةِ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْوَعِيدِ عَلَيْهِ، وَذِكْرِ الْوَعْظِ وَالتَّخْوِيفِ وَالنَّصِيحَةِ (فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ) أَيِ: التَّغْيِيرَ بِاللِّسَانِ أَيْضًا (فَبِقَلْبِهِ) : بِأَنْ لَا يَرْضَى بِهِ وَيُنْكِرَ فِي بَاطِنِهِ عَلَى مُتَعَاطِيهِ، فَيَكُونُ تَغْيِيرًا مَعْنَوِيًّا إِذْ لَيْسَ فِي وُسْعِهِ إِلَّا هَذَا الْقَدْرِ مِنَ التَّغْيِيرِ، وَقِيلَ: التَّقْدِيرُ فَلْيُنْكِرْهُ بِقَلْبِهِ لِأَنَّ التَّغْيِيرَ لَا يُتَصَوَّرُ بِالْقَلْبِ، فَيَكُونُ التَّرْكِيبُ مِنْ بَابِ: عَلَفْتُهَا تِبْنًا وَمَاءً بَارِدًا. وَمِنْهُ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: {وَالَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُوا الدَّارَ وَالْإِيمَانَ} [الحشر: 9] (وَذَلِكَ) أَيِ: الْإِنْكَارُ بِالْقَلْبِ وَهُوَ الْكَرَاهِيَةُ (أَضْعَفُ الْإِيمَانِ) أَيْ: شُعَبِهِ أَوْ خِصَالِ أَهْلِهِ، وَالْمَعْنَى أَنَّهُ أَقَلُّهَا ثَمَرَةً، فَمَنْ غَيَّرَ الْمَرَاتِبَ مَعَ الْقُدْرَةِ كَانَ عَاصِيًا، وَمَنْ تَرَكَهَا بِلَا قُدْرَةٍ أَوْ يَرَى الْمَفْسَدَةَ أَكْثَرَ وَيُكَرِّرُ مُنْكِرًا لِقَلْبِهِ، فَهُوَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ(مرقاۃ المفاتیح :تحت رقم الحدیث:۵۱۳۷)
Fatawa ID: 1285