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A brother who wishes to remain anonymous has shared this beautiful and sincere article:
In many communities today, whenever a person speaks against an obvious wrong, reminds others of an Islamic ruling, or advises someone to abandon a sin, they are often met with statements such as: “Don’t be judgmental,” “Focus on yourself,” “Everyone has their own journey,” or “Only Allah can judge.”
At first glance, these statements appear to promote humility and good manners. However, they are frequently used not to encourage sincerity, but to silence criticism and prevent the correction of wrongdoing. The issue is not that someone is being unfairly judgmental; rather, the issue is that certain individuals do not want their actions, beliefs, or behavior to be scrutinized according to the standards of Islam.
Islam does not permit believers to become fault-finders who search for people’s hidden mistakes. Neither does it permit arrogance, self-righteousness, or assuming superiority over others. At the same time, Islam does not command silence in the face of open wrongdoing. The religion establishes the principle of enjoining good and forbidding evil as a collective responsibility of the Muslim community.
When a Muslim openly abandons an obligation, promotes an innovation, supports oppression, spreads immorality, or engages in clear disobedience, identifying the act as wrong is not “judgmental.” It is simply acknowledging what Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have already judged. A believer is not creating a new standard; he is merely affirming the divine standard.
The statement “Only Allah can judge” is particularly misleading. While Allah alone judges people’s ultimate fate and knows what is in their hearts, Muslims are still required to judge outward actions according to the guidance of revelation. Courts judge disputes, Ulama issue rulings, parents correct children, teachers discipline students, and communities establish standards of conduct. Society itself cannot function without making judgments about actions.
Likewise, the phrase “Focus on yourself” becomes problematic when it is used to discourage sincere advice. Every Muslim should indeed focus on correcting his own faults, but self-improvement and advising others are not mutually exclusive. The Ambiyaa themselves were the best of people, yet they spent their lives calling others to righteousness and warning against sin.
A common tactic today is to shift attention from the wrongdoing itself to the person who points it out. Instead of discussing whether the criticized action is right or wrong, the conversation becomes centered on the adviser: “Who are you to speak?” “Are you perfect?” “Look at your own faults.” Such responses avoid the actual issue.
The truth of a statement is not determined by the perfection of the person who delivers it.
This does not mean that every criticism is valid. Advice must be based on knowledge, delivered with wisdom, and motivated by sincere concern rather than hostility or personal pride. However, the existence of bad criticism does not invalidate the obligation of sincere correction.
A healthy Muslim community is one in which truth can be spoken without fear, mistakes can be corrected without offense, and sincere advice is welcomed rather than resented.
The constant misuse of phrases such as “Don’t be judgmental” ultimately serves to protect wrongdoing from criticism and allows harmful practices to become normalized.
The believer should therefore distinguish between two very different things: condemning people unjustly, which Islam forbids, and condemning actions that Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have declared wrong, which Islam requires. Confusing these two matters benefits only those who wish to continue in error without being challenged.
True sincerity is not found in silencing reminders. It is found in accepting the truth, even when it is uncomfortable.
