Directions on giving advice -I

Among the essential obligations Islam enjoins Muslims to do is to
offer sincere advice to people, whether fellow Muslims or others, in
the best manner, so as to spread good and eliminate evilin society.
How many of us have looked to our brothers and sisters in Islam and
have seen them straying from the path of Allaah, and haveturned our
faces away? How many of us have seen our brothers erring and said to
ourselves, it is none of my business? Well, it is our business, for
the Prophethas made it our business.
In the Hadeeth )narration( relatedby Tameem Ad-Daarithe
Prophetsaid,"The religion is )built on( advice."The people listening
asked,"To whom?"The Prophetreplied,"To Allaah, toHis Book, to His
Messenger, to theleaders of the Muslims, and the common
folk."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
The Prophetequated the entire religion to giving Naseehah, but what
exactly is Naseehah? Naseehah is an Arabic word that is usually
translated tomean "sincerity" or "sincere advice", but actually
embodies every type of virtue. As believers, this statement of the
Prophetmust be taken to heart. By learning what Naseehah is, we can
then act on it and bring about positive changes in ourselves and each
other. Naseehah is a wonderful weapon,but like most weapons, if the
user does not know how to use itproperly, it can cause more harm than
good.
How is Naseehah given to Allaah?
I( By establishing His worship by offering the obligatory deeds with perfection.
II( By believing in Him; negating partners from Him; not denying any
of His qualities; describing Him with all the qualities of beauty and
perfection; and declaring Him to be far removed from faults and
qualities of imperfection.
III( By establishing His obedience and turning away from His disobedience.
IV( By loving and hating for His sake; befriending and making
allegiance to those who obey Himand taking as enemies those whodisobey
Him; and turning toward what He loves and distancing oneself from
displeasing Him.
V( By appreciating His blessings, bounties and thanking Him for them
by obeying Him out of love and drawing closer to Him through the
heart.
VI( By calling to all of the above, teaching it and being sincere in
itfor His sake.
How is Naseehah given to the Book of Allaah?
I( By firmly heartily believing that it is the Speech of Allaah and
His revelation; it is not like the wordsof the creation; and none of
His creation is capable of producing something similar to it.
II( By respecting it.
III( By learning and teaching it; reading, reciting, and writing it
properly; understanding its meaning; staying within its bounds; acting
upon what is contained in it.
How is Naseehah to the Prophet,given?
I( By affirming his prophethood.
II( By firmly believing everything he came with; obeying him in what
he commanded and what he forbade.
III( By aiding himwhile he was alive and after his death; taking his
enemies as one's enemies, and befriending those who take him as a
friend.
IV( By realizing the greatness of his right upon us, honoring himand
reviving his Sunnah )tradition/practice(.
V( By practicing his Sunnah, spreading and affirming it; refuting
those who cast doubts upon it; spreading its knowledge and its
understanding; not arguing about it without knowledge; calling others
towardit; teaching it with gentleness; showing its greatness and the
greatness of those who adhere to it by attaching oneself to them; and
showing it its due respect when studying it.
VI( By loving Ahl-ul-Bait )his family( and his companions; turning
away from those who belittle his family or revile his companions.
Naseehah to the leaders of the Muslims
It is Waajib )obligatory( to give Naseehah to the leaders of the
Muslims, since they have faults and are not protected from committing
errors, but who are the leaders of the Muslims? They are:
I( The caliphs and others responsible for the affairs of the Muslims.
II( The religious scholars.
As for giving Naseehah to the rulers of the Muslims, it includes:
I( Assisting and obeying them in the right.
II( Reminding them if they err or forget.
III( Fighting Jihaad with them.
Giving Naseehah to the scholars includes:
I( Spreading their knowledge.
II( Spreading their virtues.
III( Having good opinion about them.
IV( Accepting their rulings if they give sound proofs for their decisions.
V( Giving them the benefit of the doubt, or making excuses for them if
they make mistakes.
VI( Honoring and respecting them.
Naseehah to the common Muslims
The following includes giving Naseehah to all Muslims, be they black,
white, Arab or non-Arab; be they sinful, ignorant or heedless. It also
includes giving Naseehah to Muslims, no matter which organization or
group theybelong to or if one likes them or dislikes them.
How is Naseehah given to the common Muslims?
I( By guiding them to what will bring them benefit in this life andin
the Hereafter.
II( By removing harm from them and bringing them benefit.
III( By teaching them what one loves for oneself and hating for them
what one hates for oneself.
IV( By teaching them what will benefit them.
V( By commanding them what is right and forbidding them what is wrong
with gentleness and sincerity.
VI( By being soft with them, honoring the elderly, loving and being
merciful towards the youth.
VII( By not being deceptive and jealous toward them.
VIII( Protecting their honor and wealth.