Harming and insulting Muslims is evildoing
15-2-2012 | IslamWeb
Question:
I am 18 years old and I memorize the Quran and teach it, and the Imaam of the mosque was assigned by the security men in order to observe the Muslims who come for prayer. This Imaam is a Sufi and always insults scholars who adhere to the Sunnah. I work in the mosque and for that reason I cannot condemn him, for he keeps an eye on Muslims who act according to the prophetic Sunnah, such as growing beards and shortening the lower garment, and reports that they are wicked. Allaah knows that they are the contrary of what he claims them to be. What should I do?
Please advise me. May Allaah reward you.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
Insulting a Muslim is evildoing, as established by the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition). The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Insulting a Muslim is Fusooq (evildoing/disobedience)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] The sin of this insulter aggravates when he insults scholars of the Sunnah. Allaah The Almighty praised scholars and showed their excellence. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
• {Only those fear Allaah, from among His servants, who have knowledge.} [Quran 35:28]
• {Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?"} [Quran 39:9]
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Umaamah 
that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "The virtue of the knowledgeable over the devout worshipper is like my virtue over the most inferior amongst you (in performing good deeds)." [At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah]
Consequently, you must not keep silent concerning this heinous evil that the Imaam of the Masjid commits; try to change it as much as you can. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Sa’eed that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever amongst you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand; if he is unable to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is unable to do so, then (he should abhore it) with his heart; and that is the least of faith." [Muslim, Ahmad, At-Tirmithi, Abu Daawood, Ibn Maajah, and An-Nasaa’i]
If you cannot change this evil at all, you should quit your work in this mosque and look for another place because performing prayer behind a dissolute Imaam is disliked, and some scholars considered the prayer invalid. Furthermore, a Muslim who quits anything for the sake of Allaah, Allaah The Almighty will surely compensate him with something better. However, if you could not find a chance to work in any other place, staying in the same place with him is permissible and you should abhor his evil acts in your heart.
Allaah Knows best.