I work in administration, in a committee to fight transgressions in the business sector. It so happened that I bought a loaf of bread and found mouse droppings in it. I swore that I would find the owner of the bakery and take him to task for his lack of hygiene, because I know that mouse dropping are also a kind of najasah (impurity). I found out that the bakery belongs to a man who is connected to me by ties of kinship. By the way, I also want to find out about this point: is it regarded as ties of kinship or not, because the wife of this man is the daughter of my paternal grandfather’s cousin?
As this is not the first time we have found dirty things in the bread, I took the necessary steps and several transgressions were found when the inspection was carried out. Of course the finger of blame was pointed at me by all of his family members and even by some of my own family.
I just want to know if you can tell me: am I sinning before Allah?.
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
The relatives (Arham) with whom Allah has enjoined upholding the ties of kinship are relatives on the father’s side and on the mother’s side, including paternal uncles and their children. Based on this, the daughter of your paternal cousin is one of your relatives (Arham).
Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Aziz ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The arham are relatives on both the father’s and mother’s side. They are the ones referred to in the verse in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “But kindred by blood are nearer to one another (regarding inheritance) in the decree ordained by Allah” [Al-Anfal 8:75].
The closest of them are: fathers, mothers, grandparents and their children, a far as the line of descent extends; then the closest and next closest such as siblings and their children, paternal uncles and their children, paternal aunts and their children, and maternal uncles and aunts and their children.
It is narrated in a sahih report that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked: Whom should I honour, O Messenger of Allah? He said: “Your mother.” He said: Then whom? He said: “Your mother.” He said: Then whom? He said: “Your father, then the next closest and the next closest.” This was narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih, and there are many similar ahadith. End quote.
Fatawa Islamiyyah (4/195).
Secondly:
Allah has enjoined upon Muslims the fulfillment of trusts and bearing witness justly, even if that is against oneself or against one’s parents or against one’s relatives.
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you avoid justice; and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well‑Acquainted with what you do”
[An-Nisa’ 4:135]
Your relative’s husband did wrong by neglecting hygiene in bread-making. The fact that his wife is related to you should not stop you doing the right thing and doing what is required in your job in a proper manner, as a mercy to him and a mercy to other people. It is a mercy to him so that he would not transgress against others and wrong them, and it is a mercy to other people so that they will not eat impurities and filth because of his bad actions. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded us to support the wrongdoer by putting a stop to his actions.
It was narrated that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Support your brother whether he is a wrongdoer or is wronged.” A man said: O Messenger of Allah, I will support him if he is wronged, but how can I support him if he is a wrongdoer? He said: “By preventing him from doing wrong – that is supporting him.” Narrated by al-Bukhari (6552).
What the owner of this bakery has done is a wrong deed that must be denounced and changed by those who are able to do that. As you are in a position of authority, you can change it with your hand, and that is obligatory for you.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever among you sees an evil action, then let him change it with his hand [by taking action]; if he cannot, then with his tongue [by speaking out]; and if he cannot, then with his heart – and that is the weakest of faith.” Narrated by Muslim (49).
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It should be noted that this matter – I mean the matter of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil – has been neglected for a long time, and nothing much is left of it nowadays except a few ideas. But it is an important matter and the well being of the ummah is dependent upon this concept. If evil increases the consequences will affect righteous and unrighteous alike, and if the wrongdoer is not stopped, Allah will soon send His punishment upon all of them. “And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muhammad’s) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant) should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them” [An-Noor 24:63]. The one who is seeking the Hereafter and striving to attain the pleasure of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, should pay attention to this issue, for it is of great benefit, especially since most of it has disappeared; he should make his intention sincere and should never compromise with the one whose evil actions he is denouncing because of his high status, for Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, Allah will help those who help His (Cause)”
[Al-Hajj 22:40]
“And whoever holds firmly to Allah, (i.e. follows Islam Allah’s religion, and obeys all that Allah has ordered, practically), then he is indeed guided to the Right Path”
[Aal ‘Imran 3:101]
“As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our paths (i.e. Allah’s religion - Islamic Monotheism)”
[Al-‘Ankaboot 29:69]
“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested.
3. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test)
[Al-‘Ankaboot 29:2]
It should be noted that the reward is commensurate with the effort, and that should not be abandoned because of friendship, love, flattery, or seeking to attain or maintain a certain status with him. Friendship and love mean that you are required to respect him and give him his rights; his right is that you should advise him and guide him to what is in his best interests in the Hereafter, and save him from things that will harm him. A man’s true friend is the one who strives to protect his interests in the Hereafter even if that leads to some loss in this world, and his enemy is the one who causes his interests in the Hereafter to be lost or reduced, even if that leads to some apparent benefit in his worldly affairs. End quote.
Sharh Muslim (2/24).
These are useful words which sum up and clarify what we want to say. We ask Allah to guide the husband of your relative and to set his affairs straight. Do not pay any attention to those who think that you did wrong by penalizing him, because you have been just and fair, and it is a mercy to him, unlike those who want him to have a burden of sin and be punished in the Hereafter, who denounced your action.
And Allah knows best.
Islam Q&A
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