30- COMPRIMIZING (MUDAHANA ) AND MANAGING ( MUDARA )

Not stopping a person who is committing a forbidden action while one is powerful and strong enough to stop him is compromising (mudahana) the religion. Not interfering with a person who commits forbidden actions is either due to reverence toward him or due to reverence to persons surrounding him or due to one's weakness of religious ties. It is necessary to stop a person who commits forbidden (Haram) actions or disliked actions (Makruh) when there is no danger of instigation, e.g., there is no possibility of harming one's religion or worldly interest or harming others. Not stopping him or keeping quiet would be forbidden. Giving in from the religion, (Doing "Mudahana"), shows that the person is showing consent toward the violation of the laws of Allahu ta'ala. Mostly, keeping quiet is a virtue. But, when there is a need to distinguish between right and wrong or good and evil, one should not keep quiet. When companions said, "Oh Rasulallah! Ancient people were punished by earth quakes. They were buried under the ground. But, there were pious (Salih) persons among them." Rasulullah, peace be upon him, answered, "Yes, pious persons were also destroyed together. Because, they kept quiet while others were rebelling against Allahu ta'ala and they did not get away from those sinners." The following hadiths communicate, "Some of my followers 'Ummat' will rise from their graves as monkeys or pigs. These are the persons who mix with those who rebel against Allahu ta'ala and who eat and drink together with them." And, "When Allahu ta'ala gives knowledge 'Ilm' to a scholar 'Alim', He receives promise from him as He did with prophets." He (Alim) promises that he will not keep quiet when the situation requires him to interfere with his knowledge. The following hadith and verse demonstrate that compromising the religion, i.e., doing Mudahana is prohibited (Haram): "If one does not say the knowledge given to him by Allahu ta'ala when the situation requires him to speak out, they will put a collar made out of fire on his neck during the day of Qiyamat." And 36th verse of "Nisa" chapter of the Qur'an, "If those who are given knowledge 'Ilm' and guidance 'Hidayat' hide their knowledge from the human beings, may the curse of Allahu ta'ala and curse of those who curse be upon them!" Opposite of compromising the religion is "Gayrat" and "Salabat." The 54th verse of chapter "Maida" of the Qur'an is the following, "Those who make jihad for the sake of Allah would not be afraid of ill talk of others." This verse informs us that it is necessary for those who have religious "Gayrat" and "Salabat" to make jihad through their properties, lives, speeches, and pens for the sake of Allahu ta'ala. Rasulullah, peace be upon him, in another hadith said, "Tell the truth even if it hurts very much." A "Zahid" person witnessing some people playing songs in the presence of the fourth Amawi Caliph Marwan bin Hakem moved to break their musical instruments. Marwan ordered his guards to throw him to the lions. He started to pray among the lions. Lions came by him and started to lick him. Guards took him to the presence of the Caliph. He asked him whether or not he was afraid of the lions. He answered by saying that the fear did not cross his mind because he was thinking very much throughout the night. He asked him what was he thinking about. He said, when the lions licked him, he started to think whether their saliva was dirty (Najs) and whether Allahu ta'ala accepted his prayers or not. [Marwan bin Hakim was killed at 65 Hijri "683 A.D.".]

If one is not able to do Amr al-maruf and Nahy anil al-munkar because of his fear that his and others' security might be undermined, keeping quiet in order not to raise instigation in this situation is called "making mudara." It is permissible (Jaiz) to make "Mudara" while one's heart wants to stop those who commit forbidden actions. Even, it bears similar rewards obtained when one gives alms. It is necessary to have a soft voice and smiling face when one does "Mudara." While someone is teaching to the students, he can make "Mudara." Imam al-Ghazali, may Allahu ta'ala be pleased with him, said, "Human beings are of three kinds. First kind is like nutrition. They are necessary for everyone at all times. The second kind is like medicine. They are needed when there is a necessity for having them. The third kind is like disease. They are not needed but they annoy human beings. In order to save one's self from this type of persons, it is okay to do 'Mudara' to them." Making "Mudara" is permissible and is "Mustahab" under certain conditions. A person who does not do "Mudara" in his home to his wife loses all of his peace. Someone came to visit Rasulullah, peace be upon him. He said, "Let him come inside. He is a lowly person." When the visitor came in, he spoke with him in a soft and sweet manner. After he left, they asked him as to why he talked to him sweetly. He said, "The person who will be in the worst place in the next world 'Akhirat' is the one who is offered honors or gifts in order to save one's self from his harm in the world." The following is reported in a hadith, "It is permissible 'Jaiz' to talk behind someone 'Gibat' who commits forbidden actions 'Harams' openly without any shame. It is further permissible (Jaiz) to make 'Mudara' to these people. But, the 'Mudara' should not stretch to such an extent to become a compromise from the religion 'Mudahana'." "Mudara" is giving away worldly benefits in order to save oneself from suffering religious or worldly harms and dangers. Alternately, "Mudahana" is giving away from the religion in order to receive worldly benefits. When "Mudara" is applied to an oppressor, one should not praise him or his oppressive acts.