then you must state your name. Do not be afraid and do not be a coward. Write something like: “From so-and-so to his brother so-and-so ibn so-and-so: Peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you. To continue: I wish to advise you about such-and-such….” Once he knows your name, he can invite you or come to you and discuss the matter. But if you act cowardly and throw your words from behind a wall, that does not befit a Muslim; it is not genuine advice. You will go on nursing resentment in your heart over what you think is his mistake, and he will carry on as he is, because the person who wrote to advise him is not in front of him to explain his viewpoint and ask about the other man’s. Thus the evil remains as it is, and the error remains as it is.

If, however, the writer signs his name, he is to be thanked for it, and the one being advised can address him and explain his own position until one of the two becomes convinced by the other.

216 – ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “On the Day of Khaybar, a group of the Prophet’s ﷺ Companions approached and said, ‘So-and-so is a martyr, and so-and-so is a martyr,’ until they passed by a man and said, ‘So-and-so is a martyr.’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘No. I saw him in the Fire, wearing a cloak—or a mantle—that he had pilfered from the spoils.’” Narrated by Muslim.

217 – Abū Qatādah al-Hārith ibn Rabʿī (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ