Al An‘ām

وَمَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ وَلَـكِن ذِكْرَى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ

69. "And nothing of the reckoning of their (deed) shall be upon those who keep from evil, but a reminding (must be given) so that they, too, may keep from evil."

When the verse of prohibition upon the vain speakers and mockers of the Divine revelations was revealed, some believers said that they should not go to the Sacred Mosque and would not circumambulate the Ka'bah, since the range of their mockery had stretched as far as there. Participation in the meeting of sinners is allowed if it is with the intention of refraining them from wrong and guiding them to the right. Of course, this exception is only for those believers who are pious and firm in belief, since there are some Muslims who go to save others but they themselves drown.

Thinking and realizing the situation, in fact, is one of the principles of intellect and of Islam. Hearing the absurd sayings temporarily with the purpose of answering them or saving the deviated people permanently is allowed.

Piety is a means of protection for man against committing sins. It is like saving-clothes for fire-extinguishers. Besides being pious himself, such a person must try to make others virtuous, too.

By the way, there are abundant traditions narrated by the Prophet (S) and the Immaculate Imams (as) which prohibit Muslims from companionship with sinners or participation in a gathering where faults or a single fault is being committed and they cannot bar it even if the people of the gathering are from relatives. Imam Arnir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (as) recommended his son:

" Allah has prescribed for the ear not to listen to any sin and any backbite." ⁶

Imam Ali (as) also said: "Association with the wicked causes suspicion upon the righteous."⁷ This verse may be attached as an evidence for the prohibition of some wicked books, too.