In our lives we meet many different people, of different ages, backgrounds, personalities, different statuses, religious beliefs, different outlook on life etc. Most of the people we do meet, or whom we mix with, no matter how evil they may be, will always have some good in them, even if it be a relatively little. In such cases, if we are able to access their good qualities, then that is for the best.
A criminal or burglar may be known for breaking into people’s houses and stealing their property, now if we just look at the scenario here, we obviously know its wrong, however that same criminal was doing it in order to give some of it to the destitute and the orphans , or even to build mosque’s with it. Likewise a woman may see some orphans starving, so she fornicates to earn some money to save their hunger, or a person carrying a knife to stab someone, then he sees a child or a woman, and his heart melts so he drops the knife.
Therefore, you should deal with the people in accordance with what you know of good from them, before thinking badly of them. We are aware, from the Authentic Qur’aan and Sunnah, that stealing and fornication are wrong and evil acts, and although they have the intention to do good with it, does not make things better. However we should remember that, the fact that they are even thinking good is something which we can draw out of a person. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (
) was known for his character of making excuses for those who were in error, and thinking good of those who sin.
When he would come across a sinful person, he would first look at the aspects of his faith, then look at the aspects of his whims and disobedience. He would not have bad thoughts about anyone. He would treat them all as his own sons and brothers.
A man at the time of the Prophet (
) was an alcoholic. Once he was brought to the Prophet (
) in a drunken state and it was decreed that he be lashed. After a few days, he was caught drinking again, and was brought to the Prophet (
) and lashed. After a few days he was caught yet again drinking alcohol, and brought to the Prophet (
) and lashed.
After being lashed, when he turned to leave, a person from the Companions said,
“May Allah curse him! How often he has come here to be lashed!”The Prophet (
) turned to him whilst his complexion has visibly changed, and said
“Do not curse him! By Allah, I know that he loves Allah and His Messenger!”. (al-bukhari and muslim)
When we deal with people, we should be just. To remember the good that they have, and make them feel that their evil has not made us forget their good. Just because they are doing wrong, does not mean we can openly insult them, nor defame them for if they are our brother, how bad is it for us to look down upon someone, just because they are in the wrong; were we not in sin not too long ago? Or may have been in a similar position, or are even in sin now! Thus before we begin to uproot the ‘tree of evil’ in others, we should look for the ‘tree of good’ and water it and by the Will of Allah we hope that they come closer to us and to remember, Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide.
“O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; Nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, Nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one’s brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: "O sinner", or "O wicked"]. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zâlimûn (wrong-doers).” [49:11]