Must I Inform Others If I Previously Gave Incorrect Religious Advice?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
I previously gave incorrect religious advice. Must I inform those I advised, even if they may not have acted on it?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
If you are reasonably sure that the advice you gave was incorrect, then you should not leave the matter unattended. Whether the person acted upon it or not, there remains a risk that they may act on it in the future or even pass the same incorrect advice on to others.
For this reason, to the extent that you are able, you should try to clarify and rectify what was said.
Rectifying the Mistake With Wisdom
If correcting the advice directly will not cause harm or unnecessary difficulty, then you should inform them clearly.
However, if doing so may create problems, you may take an indirect approach, such as ensuring they receive the correct understanding through a class, or by asking the question in front of a scholar so they can learn the proper ruling without discomfort.
The key is that you should try to rectify the matter as much as possible, insha’Allah.
Accountability and Capacity
The details of accountability depend on the specifics of the situation. However, there are guiding principles to keep in mind.
Allah Most High says:
“Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford.” [Quran, 2:286]
A person is not responsible for the independent actions of others, but they are responsible to the extent that they influenced them.
Influence, Reward, and Liability
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught:
“He who calls others to follow the Right Guidance will have a reward equal to the reward of those who follow him, without diminishing the doer’s reward at all.” [Muslim]
Similarly, whoever sets a bad example and others follow it will share in the blame and liability proportionately, only to the extent that they were involved.
To the extent that you are able, try to rectify the incorrect advice.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town. He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.
