Islamic Guidance on Dealing with the Foolish and Ignorant

As such, everything Allah has created for us within the heavens and the earth is inclusively a trial from Allah, including the people we interact with daily.

Authored by: Abu Hafsah Kashiff Khan

All praises are for Allah; we praise Him and seek His aid and forgiveness. Whomsoever Allah guides cannot be misguided, and whosoever Allah leads astray cannot be guided. I testify that none is worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is his servant and Messenger.

Allah created us and brought us into existence to test us, to see who from amongst us is best in deeds. He states:

الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ

Surah al-Mulk: 2

“Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.“

As such, everything Allah has created for us within the heavens and the earth is inclusively a trial from Allah, including the people we interact with daily. We are a fitnah or a trial for others, and they are a fitnah for us. Allah states in the Qurān:

وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِيرًا

Surah al-Furqān: 20

“We have made some of you a trial for others: Will you have patience? And your Lord is Ever All-Seeing.“

Even our spouses and offspring are a trial from Allah, as He states:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ وَإِنْ تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ ١٤ إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

Surah at-Taghābun: 14-15

“O you who believe! Verily, among your wives and your children, there are enemies for you; therefore, beware of them! But if you pardon and overlook, and forgive, then verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Your wealth and your children are only a trial, whereas Allah! With Him is a great reward.”

Al-Imām Abu ‘Abdillah Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Qurtubi (died 671H.), may Allah have mercy upon him, “This worldly life is a test and a trial. Allah intended to make His servants tests for each other, and this applies to all people, be they believers or disbelievers. Accordingly, the healthy are trials for the sick, and the wealthy are trials for the poor, and the patience of the poor is a trial for the rich. This means that every person’s companion is a trial for them. The wealthy are tested by the poor, so they should be charitable to them and not look down upon them. Similarly the poor are tested by the rich, so they should not be envious of them, or take other than what they are given.”

(Al-Jāmi’ li-Ahkāmil-Qurān, by Imām Abu ‘Abdillah Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Qurtubi)

The Foolish and Ignorant are a Trial for the Believers

If our spouses and children, the most beloved of people to us, are a test and trial in this life, then it is even more likely that Allah will test us with the foolish and ignorant from His creation.

The likelihood of interacting with foolish and ignorant people has increased because of smartphones and social media. For this reason, it is important to learn Islamic guidelines in dealing with such people, as interacting with them can prove to be harmful to you and to them. Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Sālih al-‘Uthaymīn writes in his explanation of Riyādus-Sālihīn (H.703), “The ignorant are problematic. If you dispute with them or debate them, then they may hasten to speak ill of you or speak ill of the good that you are advising them with, thereby insulting the religion or other similar reactions, and refuge is sought with Allah.” He also said, “If you ignore the foolish one, you will be safe from him, but if you engage him, then his evil will increase.” (At-Ta’līq ‘alas-Sahīhil-Bukhāri, v9 p.591)

Forgiving Them, Advising Them, and Ignoring Them

Allah commands us in His book to:

خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ

Surat al-A‘arāf: 199

Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish.

Although the Mufassirūn have differed on what is intended by the statement {خُذْ الْعَفْوَ}, the strongest opinion is what has been narrated on ‘Abdullah bin Zubair رضي الله عنه that he said, “Allah did not reveal this verse except concerning the people’s (ill) character.” Additionally, it has been narrated that he said, “Allah commanded his Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to forgive the people their misbehavior towards him.” [Sahih al-Bukhāri, H.4643 and H.4644]. A-Imām Ibn Jarīr at-Tabari رحمه الله preferred this opinion over the others, stating in his explanation of the Qurān, “The most preferred of these statements in correctness is the statement, ‘Forgive the people their (ill) manners and do not be coarse with them.’”

(Jāmi’ul-Bayān ‘an Ta’wīl Āyil-Qurān by Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Jarīr at-Tabari)

Al-Imām Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله writes, “Some of the scholars have said that people are of two types. As for a person who does good towards others, then accept from his goodness what you are allowed to accept, and do not burden him with more than he can bear or with what would cause him hardship. As for the one who is sinful (or disrespectful), advise him with goodness. If he insists on his sinfulness, becomes difficult with you, and continues in his ignorant ways, then ignore him. Perhaps he will be averted from his evil deed by you doing so. As Allah has said:

ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ

وَقُلْ رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ

وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ

Surat al-Muminūn: 96-98

Repel evil with that which is better. We are Best-Acquainted with the things they utter. And say: “My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the whisperings of the shayatīn. And I seek refuge with You, My Lord! Lest they may come near me.”

وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ

وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ

وَإِمَّا يَنْزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Surat Fussilat: 34-36

The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better. Then verily, he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend. But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient, and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion. And if an evil whisper from Shaytān tries to turn you away then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

And Allah also states in this surah:

وَإِمَّا يَنْزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Surat al-A‘arāf: 200

“And if an evil whisper from Shaytān tries to turn you away then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.“

These three instances in the Qurān from al-A’rāf, Al-Muminūn, and Fussilat stand alone. In them, Allah guides us regarding dealing with sinners from amongst mankind with goodness and with what is better, as this may deter them from their persistence in wrongdoing.” (Tafsīrul-Qurānil-‘Adhīm by Ibn Kathir).

Al-Imām Muhammad bin Ali ash-Shawkāni (d.1250H) رحمه الله writes in his explanation of this verse, “If you have established the proof by advising them with goodness and they have not acted (upon the advice), then turn away from them and do not indulge them in their argumentation and foolishness.” (Fathul-Qadīr of Imām Muhammad bin Ali ash-Shawkāni).

The Anger of Amīrul-Muminīn ‘Umar bin al-Khattāb رضي الله عنه and the Advice of al-Hurr bin Qays رضي الله عنه

Even the best among us can be provoked by foolishness and ignorance. ‘Abdullah bin Abbās رضي الله عنه narrates the advice Al-Hurr bin Qays رضي الله عنه gave to Amīrul-Muminīn ‘Umar bin al-Khattāb رضي الله عنه when he was angered by the allegations of Al-‘Uyaynah bin Hisn bin Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه. Al-Hurr رضي الله عنه was an advisor to the Khalīfah because he had memorized the Qurān by heart. On one occasion, the uncle of al-Hurr, Uyaynah bin Hisn said to Umar to Amīrul-Muminīn ‘Umar bin al-Khattāb, “O Ibn al-Khattāb, neither do you provide for us sufficiently, nor do you judge between us fairly.” Upon hearing this, Umar bin al-Khattāb became angry and intended to harm Uyaynah, but al-Hurr رضي الله عنه said to him, “O Amīrul-Muminīn, Allah said to His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:

خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ

Surat al-A‘arāf: 199

“Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish.”

And this one (i.e. Uyaynah) is from the foolish.” Upon hearing this verse, ‘Umar رضي الله عنه restrained himself from harming Uyaynah. (Sahih al-Bukhari, H.4246).

Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Sālih al-‘Uthaymīn writes in his explanation of Riyādus-Sālihīn (H.50), “’Umar رضي الله عنه stopped upon hearing this verse, as he used to act upon the commandments of Allah’s book. So he did not strike the man or harm him due to the verse al-Hurr رضي الله عنه recited. Look at the manners of the companions used with Allah’s book; they would obey its commandments. If it was said to them, this is the statement of Allah, they would stop where they were.”

The Shaykh further states, “This is how we should act if we find ourselves in a situation causing anger and rage. We should remember the guidance found in the book of Allah and Sunnah of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم so that we can adhere to their guidance and not go astray. The one who follows the guidance of Allah, then indeed Allah has said regarding them:

قَالَ اهْبِطَا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ مِنِّي هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَى

Surat Taha: 123

“Then, if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray nor fall into distress and misery.”

And with Allah lies success.” (End of Al-Uthaymīn’s speech.)

Source: Compiled

Author: Abu Hafsah Kashiff Khan

Translated by: Abu Hafsah Kashiff Khan