Those who openly sin – I

It is from the Sunnah of the Prophet that we take the light of
guidance regarding this crucial issue, which is one that requires
urgent attention due to it being one of the most important matters
that will assist in preserving the Muslim community with regards to
its religion and chastity.
Abu Hurayrah reported: "The Messenger of Allaah said: "Every member of
my nation will be forgiven, except those who expose their wrongdoings.
An example of this is that of a man who commits a sin at night which
Allaah then conceals, but, the next morning, he goes and says (to
people): 'I committed such and such a sin last night' - while Allaah
had kept it secret. During the night Allaah had concealed it, but in
the morning he tore up the cover provided by Allaah Himself."
[Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]
Those who openly expose their sins to others will be deprived from the
forgiveness of Allaah. Imaam An-Nawawi said: "It is permissible to
speak openly about those who openly expose the sins that they commit,
or innovations they propagate."
Such a person would sit in a gathering and say: "I committed such and
such a sin last night" and then give details, whilst the Messenger of
Allaah said: "Refrain from these filthy matters(i.e. sins) that Allaah
has forbidden, and if one of you is tried by committing any of them,
then let him conceal them as Allaah has concealed them for him."
[Al-Haakim]
Why is this? It is because openly exposing one's sins is a way of
slighting the rank of Allaah; it is Allaah who forbade such sins to be
committed and who informedus of this through His Messenger . Thus, the
one who openly exposes his disobedience is expressing indifference
regardingthe legislation of Allaah, the rank of His Messenger and the
feelings of the righteous within the Muslim community. To do this is
therefore nothing except dogged arrogance.
Openly exposing sins and bragging about them is a common practice
amongst people nowadays, and has replaced repenting from them and
concealing them from others. If one sins, he should not even inform a
single person, and must repent and resolve never to commit the same
sin again. One may, however, inform a scholar or a wise friend in
order to seek his help and receive advice on how to refrain from and
resist such sins, as well as to receive guidance on matters that would
protect him from being tempted again and to inform him of deterrents
that would prevent him from falling into the same mistake again.
Another specific permissible reason for one exposing his sin isto do
so in order to seek the Islamic ruling regarding what he has
committed; the proof for thisis the story of the man who had sexual
intercourse with his wife during the daytime one Ramadhaan during the
lifetime ofthe Messenger of Allaah . The man then went and informed
theProphet of what he had done so that he would know what the ruling
was and what he should therefore do regarding this sin. The Prophet
did not condemnhim for telling him what he had done and instructed him
as to what to do for expiation.
Exposing sins and bragging about them encourages others tocommit them
and imitate the sinners. The prohibition of openlycommitting sins is a
great wisdom, because Allaah knows that such acts move others and
motivate them to indulge in the same evil; it also makes sinning more
attractive to people, decorating it in their eyes. This is why openly
exposing one's sins isso perilous.
The Islamic scholars mentioned many rulings related to those who
openly expose theirsins to others, such as the prayer behind such
people to be disliked(i.e., such people may not lead congregational
prayers). Some scholars even went as far as to state that one must
repeat his prayer if he prays behind such a person. Ibn Abu Zayd was
asked whether or not a sinner can lead people during congregational
prayers, to which he answered: "If he is one who openly and
persistently exposes his sins to others, then he may not." This means
that he should not be given the opportunity to lead to begin with, and
if he is already leading, then people must strive to remove and
replace him, because this person is unfit for leadership.
On the other hand, if one openly exposes a sin of his unintentionally
then he is pardoned due to it occurring accidentally. Imaam Maalik was
asked about this and answered: "This is something that anyone could
(accidentally) do … (but) nothing is similar to the evil of he who
persistently and openly exposes his sins."
An issue related to this is that of visiting such a person when he is
sick; visiting a sick Muslim is highly rewardable by Allaah, and it is
a right that a Muslim has over other Muslims, but the Islamic scholars
said regarding the one who openly exposes his sins: "He is not to be
visited, so that this (shunning) acts as a means of making him repent
from such evil, and in order for others to refrain from such an act
when they see how badly he is treated; but, (one mayvisit him) if the
intention is to admonish and advise him."
Another ruling regarding such a person is concerning praying the
funeral prayer over him; the Islamic scholars stated thathe is not to
be prayed over as a deterrent for others, so that they will not follow
in his footsteps. Inthis regard, Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah said: "People
should refrain from praying over the dead person who was knownto
openly expose his sins to others as a means to prevent others from
acting like him." Onlythe common people should pray over such a
person, because he was still a Muslim, but people of piety and
knowledge should be absent.
What is the ruling of backbiting such people and revealing their sins?
Generally, it is recommended to conceal the sinsof others because the
Prophet said: "Whoever covers up the fault of a Muslim, Allaah will
cover up his fault(s) on the Day ofResurrection." [Al-Bukhaari &
Muslim]
The exception to this narration applies only for the one who openly
exposes his sins, as the scholars stated; this is because it becomes
recommended for others to expose him to people so that they can avoid
dealing with him. Concealing the faults ofsuch a person could
encourage him to commit more evil.
As for backbiting such people, Imaam Ahmad said: "He whoopenly exposes
his sins to others has no protection against backbiting (i.e. it is
not prohibited to backbite him)." On the other hand, Imaam An-Nawawi
stated that it is permitted, but only regarding thesins he exposed to
others and nothing else, so that people can be warned against him.
Additionally, if he is likely to take heed as a result of people
boycotting him, then people should boycott him by not talking to him,
not visiting him, not responding to him when he salutes with Salaam
and so on. This is because exposition of sins is a matter taken very
seriously inIslam.
One is obliged Islamically to respond to invitations to wedding feasts
because the Prophet said: "He who does not respond to and honour the
dinner invitation of a wedding has disobeyed Allaah and His
Messenger." Nonetheless, this obligation does not apply to the
invitations of those who openly expose their sins.