outweighed by something as small as the space a whip occupies in Paradise; a single morning or evening spent in Allah’s cause is better than it, and standing guard on the frontier for His sake is better than it as well.

These ḥadiths also relate that when the Prophet ﷺ was asked, “Which of people is best?” he replied that it is the man who strives in the path of Allah with his wealth and his very self. He then added, “and next is a believer who withdraws to one of the mountain passes, worships Allah there, and keeps people safe from his harm.” In other words, he is constantly engaged in worship, refrains from bothering others, and does not wish anyone to be harmed because of him. This narration is one of the proofs cited to show that seclusion can be better than social mixing.

The sounder position, however, is that the ruling depends on circumstances. Whoever fears that his faith will be endangered by mingling with people should choose seclusion, whereas whoever does not fear such danger should mingle with them. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The believer who mixes with people and is patient with the harm they cause is better than the believer who neither mixes with them nor endures their harm.”

For example, if the times have grown corrupt and you find that mixing with people only increases you in sin and estrangement from Allah, then keep to yourself—withdraw. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Soon the best property a man will possess will be sheep that he follows to the peaks of the mountains and the places where rain falls.”

Thus the matter varies: in times of tribulation, rampant evil, and fear of falling into sin, seclusion is better than mixing; but if that is not the case, then mix with people, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, bear their harm with patience, and live among them—for perhaps Allah will guide someone through you.