Is it permissible to overlook minor errors in friends' conversations and focus on major ones, such as swearing by other than Allah, or to advise gently over time? What is meant by the verse: "O you who have believed, upon you is [the responsibility for] yourselves" [Qur’an 5:105]? What is the ruling on insulting religion when angry or habitually doing so? And how should one deal with corrupt factions in school, and what is the ruling on repelling an aggressor in this situation?
The fundamental principle is to change an evil with one's hand; if unable, then with one's tongue; and if unable, then with one's heart, based on the hadith: "Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he is unable, then with his tongue; and if he is unable, then with his heart."
However, if you know that your denunciation of every evil will lead the one committing the evil to abandon his obligations, then it is permissible in such a case to refrain from denouncing the evil to avert a greater harm. Some evils may be overlooked if denouncing them would lead to a greater harm.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/139669