“Which one is better during times of trials and the spread of sin and corruption: mixing with society and attempting to reform it, or secluding yourself from it and saving yourself?

As for the Sufis, the majority of them chose the second road. But as for the scholars who dedicated themselves to the way of God and strove in His way, they chose the way of the prophets, which is to mix with poeople and strive and patiently endure society's hurtfulness.

Ibn Umar narrates from the Prophet ﷺ: "The believer who mixes with people and endures the harm that comes from them is better than the Muslim who does not mix with people and does not endure their harm." [Bukhari, Ahmad and others]