BENEFIT 413: Refraining from enjoining good and forbidding evil out of fear of people is from minor shirk

Question: O noble Sheikh — may Allah grant you success — the questioner asks: “There are those who show undue courtesy in matters of religion, to the extent that it becomes their habit. They do not speak out against wrongdoing and feel shy to object to those they frequently associate with. Would this behaviour be considered a form of hypocrisy?” Sheikh Fawzan hafidahullah responded: This has been mentioned as falling under minor shirk. That is, fearing the people and therefore refraining from speaking out is considered a form of minor shirk. Yes, abandoning enjoining good and forbidding evil out of fear of people is from minor shirk.”