The Prophets Methods for Correcting Peoples Mistakes by Sh. Al-Munajjed

• Sincerity towards Allah
• Making mistakes is part of human nature.
• Saying that someone is wrong should be based on shar'i evidence and proper understanding, not on ignorance and that fact that one happens not to like it
• The more serious a mistake is, the more effort should be made to correct it.
• Taking into account the position of the person who is striving to correct the mistake
• Making a distinction between one who errs out of ignorance and one who errs despite his knowledge
• Making a distinction between mistakes stemming from an honest effort to find out what is right (ijtihaad), and mistakes done deliberately, out of negligence or because of shortcomings
• A good intention on the part of the one who makes the mistake does not mean that he should not be rebuked
• Being fair and not being biased when correcting those who make mistakes.
• Being careful lest correcting one mistake leads to a bigger mistake.
• Understanding the human nature from which the mistake sprang.
• Making a distinction between mistakes that transgress the limits of Islam and mistakes that only affect other people.
• Making a distinction between major mistakes and minor mistakes, just as Islam makes a distinction between major sins (kabaa’ir) and minor sins (saghaa’ir).
• Making a distinction between a person who has a track record of many good deeds, which will more or less cancel out the significance of his mistake, and a sinner who transgresses against himself (by doing evil deeds).
• Making a distinction between the one who makes mistakes repeatedly and the one who is making a mistake for the first time.
• Making a distinction between the one who frequently makes mistakes and the one who rarely does so.
• Making a distinction between the one who makes mistakes openly and blatantly, and one who tries to cover up his mistakes.
• Paying attention to cases where a person’s adherence to Islam may not be strong and his heart needs to be opened to the religion, so we should not be too harsh with him.
• Taking into account a person’s situation as regards status and authority.
• Rebuking a youngster who makes a mistake should be done in a manner appropriate to the child’s age.
• Not occupying oneself with putting the symptoms right whilst neglecting to deal with the cause of the mistake.
• Not exaggerating about the mistake.
• Not going to extremes to prove the mistake happened or trying to force an admission of guilt from the one who made the mistake.
• Allowing enough time for correcting the mistake, especially in the case of one who has been accustomed to doing it for a long time, whilst still following up the matter and continuing to advise and correct.
• Not making the one who makes the mistake feel like an enemy, because the aim is to win people over, not score points against them.