Does One Have to Inform Others if One Had Misleading Views and Supported Them?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
If a person has misled others about rulings, must the people be informed for repentance to be accepted?
For example, if a person, during days when they were self-proclaimed feminists/LGBT supporters, had claimed /indicated things to non-Muslims, and then later realized and felt remorse and repented, must they contact the non-Muslims and clarify what Islam says, even though it was years past and they haven’t spoken to the non-Muslims in a while?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question and for reforming your understanding. Allah Most High, keep you firm and steadfast, Amin.
It would have been important if you had informed them about your views if they were Muslims. However, as they are Non-Muslims, if you can inform them and educate them, this will be good, first talk to them about general things, and then tell them about your corrected views in a way that you can always return to them to invite them about Islam and correct human values.
Whoever Sees Evil should Change it if Possible
Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever among you sees evil, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot do so, then with his tongue. If he cannot do so, then with his heart, which is the weakest level of faith.” [Muslim]
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
