in ambiguous language, deceiving the ignorant masses with the sophistries they contrive.”
What proves that mere movement from one direction to another does not constitute a real “change” is the report established in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (1) on the authority of Abū Saʿīd (2), that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:
“Whoever among you sees an evil (munkar) let him change it with his hand. If he is unable, then with his tongue. If he is unable, then with his heart—and that is the weakest level of faith.”
He thereby commanded that evil be changed by hand or by tongue. Now, it is obvious that “changing” an evil means removing it so that it is no longer an evil, and that can only be achieved by eliminating its form and its specific quality, not by merely transferring it from one space to another. Thus, wine is not altered simply by moving it from place to place; it must be poured out or rendered useless so that its very form is destroyed (3). Likewise, if someone sees a person killing another, the evil is not averted by merely relocating the act while the image of killing remains; the fighting itself must cease (4). The same holds for two fornicators (5), or for one who is uttering an innovation and calling others to it—this evil is not changed merely by shifting it from one location to another. And similar examples are many. Hence, when the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—