Saudi society, especially the youth, have an expectation that the staff of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the Hai'a, will treat them fairly and with respect, Al-Riyadh newspaper reported Wednesday. This is in line with the promise of the newly-appointed chief of the Hai'a, Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Aal Al-Sheikh, who said recently that staffers must ensure they do not flout Islamic principles when dealing with the public, the newspaper said in a report published on Wednesday. The Saudi public also expects the Hai'a to transform itself into an organization that will only act on the basis of concrete evidence, as required under the Shariah. The proof of this Islamic principle or rule is based on the Hadith narrated by Abbad Bin Tamim, who said: “My uncle asked Allah's Apostle about a person who thought he had passed wind during prayer. Allah's Apostle replied: ‘He should not stop praying until or unless he hears the sound or smells the odor'.” The Hadith is a reminder that people must not act unless they are certain about an issue. They must ensure there is no doubt at all. This means that the Hai'a staff should deal with the youth in good faith; and if they make a mistake, they should apologize publicly, the newspaper said. It added that the Hai'a was needed in Saudi society to protect the religion and people's property and dignity, but Hai'a staffers need to act within certain boundaries. Dr. Ahmad Al-Ghamdi, former Director of the Hai'a in Makkah, said recently: “The youth constitute a large segment of society. Most of them look at the work of the Hai'a as authoritarian and cruel. It's normal to have some differences in society, but under all circumstances the humanity of the violator should be respected, which is his right as a Muslim.” “The Hai'a staff must understand that it is a common thing for people to make mistakes, and that the Creator always gives His slaves a chance to repent. This means that the staff should understand human nature. They should be kind to the public especially the youth. This is because violence breeds violence.” Al-Ghamdi said that the incorrect behavior of some Hai'a members has had a negative impact on the work of the organization. Dr. Ahmad Hafez, a psychiatrist, said that young people tend to be rebellious. “It is a well-known fact that at this age they rebel against everything to prove themselves. They do not necessarily disobey verbally, but rather do so in terms of their actions.” This is why they fight with the Hai'a staff, he added. “The Hai'a staff must be trained in the principles of psychology. This will help them in their task.” Dr. Sulaiman Al-Megabl, a professor of sociology at King Saud University in Riyadh, said Hai'a staffers must spend time explaining to young people what is wrong with their behavior. They must also take into account changes that have taken place in the world, including the impact of Twitter and Facebook on the behavior of young people. The Hai'a staff must realize that these changes have confused young people, he said.
