In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Al-Allaamah Saaleh al Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said:

When punishment descends on the disobedient ones, it touches both the righteous and the wicked one, except the one who rejected evil. Indeed he (the one who rejected evil) will be saved. As for the one who did not reject evil, he will be destroyed even if he a righteous person. He will be destroyed along with those who are destroyed, just as what took place with Ashaabus Sabt (those who violated the Sabath). Allaah [Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections] did not mention anything concerning those who kept quiet (i.e. those refrained from rejecting evil); rather He only mentioned those who forbade evil. As for the second group, those who said: [ وَإِذۡ قَالَتۡ أُمَّةٌ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ لِمَ تَعِظُونَ قَوۡمًا‌ۙ ٱللَّهُ مُهۡلِكُهُمۡ أَوۡ مُعَذِّبُہُمۡ عَذَابً۬ا شَدِيدً۬ا‌ۖ – Why do you preach to a people whom Allah is about to destroy or to punish with a severe torment?] (Surah Al-A’raaf. Aayah 164), Allaah kept quiet about them (i.e. those who made this statement), no information is given regarding whether they were either amongst the destroyed or those saved. What is apparent is that they were amongst the destroyed.

Allaah said:

لُعِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُ ۥدَ وَعِيسَى ٱبۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ بِمَا عَصَواْ وَّڪَانُواْ يَعۡتَدُونَ
ڪَانُواْ لَا يَتَنَاهَوۡنَ عَن مُّنڪَرٍ۬ فَعَلُوهُ‌ۚ لَبِئۡسَ مَا ڪَانُواْ يَفۡعَلُونَ

‘Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Daawood and Eesaa, son of Maryam. That was because they disobeyed (Allaah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bounds. They used not to forbid one another from evil which they committed. Vile indeed was what they used to do. [Surah Al-Maa’idah. Aayaat 78-79]

After the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] recited this statement of Allaah, he said, “The reason being cursed was because they did not forbid one another from evil which they committed. So Allaah cursed all of them”. He said, “‘By no means, I swear by Allaah, you must enjoin good and forbid evil, prevent the wrongdoer, bend him into conformity with what is right, and restrict him to what is right, or Allaah will mingle your hearts together and curse you as He cursed them”. [Abu Dawud] (1)

Allaah [The Exalted] said: [ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ ۖ O you who believe! Take care of your own selves]- Meaning, strive to rectify and perfect your own souls, and keep them firm upon the straight path, because if you are righteous, you will not be harmed by the one deviated from the straight path and is not guided to the upright religion; rather he only harms himself. (However), this does not indicate that a servant of Allaah is not harmed if he abandons enjoining good and forbidding evil, and is negligent towards it, because his guidance will not be complete except through fulfilling what is obligated on him with regards to enjoining good and forbidding evil. Yes, if he is (genuinely) unable to stop evil with his hand and his tongue, but rejects it in his heart, then indeed he will not be harmed by the misguidance of others. [إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا -The return of you all is to Allah] That is: Your final destination is the day of Judgement and your gathering will be in the presence of Allaah (The Most High);فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ”then He will inform you about (all) that which you used to do” regarding (your) good and evil (deeds). (2)

Question to Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him]: Is enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil by the hand an obligation on all Muslims, or is it limited to those in authority and their deputies?

Stopping wrong is obligated on all Muslims according to their ability, because the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Anyone of you who sees evil [i.e. that which is declared an evil deed by Islaam], let them stop it with their hand; if he cannot, then with their tongue; and if they cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of Imaan’’. [Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi & others]

However, stopping evil by the hand must be based on ability and should not result in greater corruption or evil. A man has the right to rectify matters with his hand in his home [i.e. based on what the law of the land allows him]; a manager has the authority to make changes with the hand within the organization they are responsible for, in accordance with the instructions that were given to them [i.e. the authority given to them by the state authorities]; otherwise, people should not change with their hand anything they are not authorised to change. If they do make changes in matters that they have no authority over, this will result in more evil and great corruption between them and the people and between the people and the state.

In this case they should stop evil with their tongue (by speaking out). They may say: ‘’O Fulaan! Fear Allaah! This is not permissible; this is Haraam, or This is obligated on you,’’ and clarify it with evidence from Sharee’ah. [NB: In the UK, objecting to certain behaviour can be viewed as harassment or verbal abuse, therefore a Muslim should be aware of what the law allows him before he says or does anything whilst living in the West].

As for changing matters with the hand, this should be done where one has authority, such as one’s home [i.e. within what the law allows], with those under one’s responsibility, or those authorized by the ruler, such as organizations given permission and authority to enjoin Good. They should make changes in accordance with the authority they have been given- in the way prescribed by the Sharee’ah, without exceeding their jurisdiction. The same applies to the governor of a city; he should make changes with his hand, in accordance with the instructions he has. (3)

[Ref 1: The Means To Safety For The Ummah. page 5]

[Ref 2: Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer kalaam Al-Mannaan]

[Ref 3: Fataawa Ibn Baaz 8/208]