When we see some wrong taking place then patience and tolerance is absolutely necessary especially in these times, and when you not a member of commanding good and prohibiting evil from the side of the government.  By reacting in an incorrect manner at an inappropriate time will merely worsen the situation. You may think that you are pious, and cannot tolerate wrong therefore you said a mouthful but little do you realise that you have caused a bad situation to become worse.

The people will hate you and lose respect for you for the manner in which you had reacted. The best was to leave the gathering where the wrong was taking place, and think of how to handle the situation. Think whether you should speak or ask another person to speak? Is now the time to speak or must the problem be addressed later? What words should be used? Must their actions be condemned or must they be approached in a positive manner? Perhaps, the little good actions that they were involved in can be used to encourage them to do better.

When a person blows his top off as he feels that he is on Shariat, then such an action causes pride to enter the heart. Pride is a sin that may be much worse than the sin that they are committing, even though they may be listening to music or watching a video. Many of us fight with our parents, children, etc. as we feel that we are practising upon Shariat.

Yes, if you have complete control over the situation and people listen to you then the situation is somewhat different. Hadrat Maulana ilyaas Saheb R.A had given a beautiful example to explain this point. There was a person by the name of Hajee Ameen Saheb. Hadrat Maulana had commenced the work in Nizamud-Deen and these people used to come from Old Delhi for Shab-Guzari. Today New Delhi has expanded to such an extent that it is regarded as one city but previously Nizamud-Deen was regarded as separate from Old Delhi, but people used to come on horse and cart for the ShabGuzari.

Hadrat Maulana was pleased that these people were attending the programmes but he was concerned of Deen coming into their lives. In a beautiful way, Hadrat placed his hands on the cheeks of Bhai Ameen Saheb and said, “How nice won’t it be if Sunnat could come onto his face.” He got offended and stopped coming for the programme. Hadrat Maulana arranged for a horse and cart and visited him and asked for forgiveness for offending him. He then pleaded to him to come for the programmes and he promised not to speak on the beard in future. The same person became the Amir of Karachi later.

Hadrat Maulana then mentioned,

میں  نے  ٹھنڈ ا توا   پر  روٹی  ڈال  دی

I had put the roti on a cold Tawa

If the roti is rolled out and then put onto a cold Tawa then the roti will stick onto the Tawa. If a person does so, then it is a big mess and extra work. If the roti is put onto a hot Tawa then one will cook a delicious roti. Similarly, we should also heat the Tawa when we want to correct someone. When we realise that he has the potential of changing and accepting then we should correct him.

Hadrat Thanvi R.A during his young days was travelling by train where he noticed someone with his trouser below the ankle. Hadrat requested him to lift his trouser, so he asked the reason. Hadrat said, “It is the command of Shariat.” He swore Shariat. Hadrat said, “Taubah! Taubah! From today, I will not correct anyone that is a stranger, with whom I have no affiliation unless I know that he has the temperament to accept.”  This person with his trouser below the ankle was in sin but I caused him to fall into Kufr.

Sometimes the Imaams are lashing it out, some at their friends, but we are causing people to move further away from Deen. How to approach people will only come by us remaining in the Suhbat of the Ahlullah.