has treated me in such-and-such a way. Does he have the right to do that? What course will free me from his hold, secure my due, and ward off the injustice?”—and similar questions. This is permissible when there is a genuine need. Yet the safer and better approach is to say, “What do you rule concerning a man, or a certain individual, or a husband, whose case is such-and-such?”—for the aim is met without identifying anyone. Even so, naming the person is allowed, as we shall mention in the ḥadīth of Hind (1), God willing.
- Warning the Muslims against harm and giving them sincere counsel. This may take several forms:
• One is discrediting unreliable narrators or witnesses; this is permissible—indeed obligatory when needed—by consensus of the Muslims.
• Another is when one is consulted about marrying into someone’s family, entering a partnership with him, depositing goods with him, doing business with him, living next to him, or the like. The one consulted must not conceal the person’s true condition; rather, he should mention whatever faults he knows, intending sincere advice.
• A further case is when one sees a student of law frequenting an innovator (mubtadiʿ) or an open sinner to take knowledge from him and fears harm for the student. He must then advise the student by clarifying that teacher’s state, on the condition that he sincerely seeks the student’s welfare. This is an area where many slip, for envy may motivate the speaker and Satan may cloak the matter so that he imagines it is advice; let him beware of that.
• Yet another is when someone holds an office but does not discharge it properly—because he is unfit, corrupt (fāsiq), heedless, and the like. One must inform whoever has higher authority over him so that he can remove him, appoint someone more suitable, or at least know his shortcomings and deal with him accordingly, neither being deceived by appearances nor failing to urge him toward rectitude or to replace him if need be.
- The fifth case is when a person openly commits sin or innovation, like one who brazenly drinks wine,