Is it wrong to correct erring people?

I was talking with a friend about the actress that posted indecent pictures on social media and he said that people had no right to condemn her because it’s her lifestyle and besides those who condemned her also committ sins all the time. So my question is this: ‘If someone is guilty of sinning (obviously […]

I was talking with a friend about the actress that posted indecent pictures on social media and he said that people had no right to condemn her because it’s her lifestyle and besides those who condemned her also committ sins all the time. So my question is this: ‘If someone is guilty of sinning (obviously everyone is), does it mean he cannot warn and reprimand those who sin?

-Correcting the wrong!

 

Dear Correcting,

No, it’s not wrong, rather, it’s highly recommended and even obligatory to, in some cases. It’s, however, preferred it’s done privately and not publicly. Except when it’s impossible to do so privately or when it’s affecting the decency and goodness of the general public then it can be done publicly in order that people will know it’s wrong and not to partake in it.

It’s another great sin to sin publicly, and there is the possibility of not been forgiven for that sin by Allah The Most High, as reported by Abu Huraira May Allah be pleased with him. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Everyone from my nation will be forgiven except those who sin in public. Among them is a man who commits an evil deed in the night that Allah has hidden for him, then in the morning he says: O people, I have committed this sin! His Lord had hidden it during the night, but in the morning he reveals what Allah has hidden.”

But in the case of this particular actress, I think is better not to correct her by commenting publicly through the social media outlets, because she already knows it’s not right to post such pictures, she knows the society and the environment she hails from and she knows that is not acceptable.

 

Am I showing off?

It so happens that when I do something good or give out to charity and people show their gratitude, I feel pleased in my heart, is that also a form of riya? (Show off).

-Scared to show off!

 

Dear Scared,

That’s not a show off, because it’s something you feel internally, no one will know you feel pleased by people appreciating the goodness you did to them. It will only be a show off if you publicize and brag about it to other people. Think about your initial intention for giving, is it because you empathize and want to help or is it because you want people to appreciate and say what a good person you’re? Your initial intention is your determining factor, being pleased for being appreciated is normal just like you will probably feel a little bit peeved if you give and it was not acknowledged or appreciated. Just be careful not to do good deeds only for the pleasure of being appreciated!

 

Why do people fake their lives to impress others?

Dear Nabila,

Social media, especially Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram have made it easier for people to create a false life that is completely different from their real life in order to impress their followers.  Most of them people they don’t even know nor care about, but they go to extremes, spend much time and mobile data just to impress them. This is very perplexing to me! That they waste their time and energy only for this purpose. It makes me dislike such people and I keep thinking are they human or some subspecies of human beings? Kindly explain what you think makes people lie in order to impress others?

-Perplexed!

 

Dear Perplexed,

There are various reasons that make some people to lie and create fake lives in order to impress others. People suffering with low self esteem and inferiority complex lie to impress in order to be accepted, to be included, to be part of the main crowd or to be part of a trend, etc. There are also those suffering with superiority complex and self obsessed people who create fake lives, in order, to project themselves as better than anyone, especially in terms of physical beauty, know-how fashion and material possessions. There are also the ignorant copycats who simply follow what is trending ignorantly in order to appear fashionably updated and sophisticated. There are also the show off group, these people that are lucky to actually be living the good life and relish in broadcasting their extravagant lifestyle and possessions on social media just to show off to others how  better off they are. In whichever way you look at it, lying and creating a false life just for the sake of impressing others originates from somewhere toxic and negative, and the long term end result of these habits is that people will finally find out about all these lies and become unimpressed!