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Fatwa CenterCan one retaliate if harmed when forbidding evil?
Question
I would like to ask you according to Sharee'ah what should we do to stop Fitnah? And if we are not able to stop the people spreading Fitnah and people who are going deep and deep into Shirk what should we do? If they start to boycott us for we show them right path what should we do? If they come to harm us or they come to fight with us are we supposed to fight them back for self defense?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
The questioner did not make clear the matter that is practiced by people which he wants to prevent them from practicing. It seems that he meant the innovations and the evil acts that are contrary to the true faith.
However, the answer is that these practices – innovations and acts that breach faith – are evil and a Muslim has to change them, he has to exhort his Muslim brothers and make them aware of their dangers. The best answer in this concern is what is stated in the Prophetic narration. The Prophet 
said: "Whoever sees an evil, should change it with his hand; if he can't, then he should change it with his tongue; if he can't then he should reject it in his heart (i.e. detest it), and this is the weakest level of faith." [Muslim] This narrations proves that changing evil physically is obligatory on the one who is able to do so; if he is not able to do so then he has to change it with his tongue i.e. advising the evil doer to give up the sins, and if he cannot even advise him then at least he has to dislike it in his heart.
Imaam An-Nawawi
said: 'If one strongly believes that changing an evil physically may lead to an evil greater than the existing evil like his murder or murder of anyone else, then he has to restrict himself to giving advise verbally. If verbal advice could also lead to the same consequences then he has to settle for desisting it with his heart. This is what is meant by the narration.'
Imaam An-Nawawi's statement proves that if changing evil with the hand or the tongue may lead to a greater evil then the obligation is dropped from a Muslim.
Therefore, we advise the questioner to do his best to advise the people with wisdom and kindness. If they accept your advice then praise Allaah, if they do not and you fear that it may cause a greater trouble then the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil is dropped from you. In this situation, if you carry out the obligation and try to change the evil it may lead to much mischief like fighting between Muslims and spreading disturbance without any benefit, as it is been experienced.
Allaah Knows best.
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