The Obligation of Forbidding Evil upon Muslims

Question:
To those who care about enjoining good and forbidding evil, we direct this question to you, and to those who claim responsibility for protecting the religion from evil, obscenity, and wrongdoing in the Muslim society in general, and in these sacred lands in particular, since it is the qiblah of the Muslims. What remains for this ummah (the Muslim community) of enjoining good and forbidding evil?
And is there a more severe blow than employing non-Muslims in the homes of the Muslim community? The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) warned us against this action, and Allah the Exalted says: What is your opinion regarding obscene magazines and ugly pictures, and the nude images contained in these magazines that depict the private parts of women and men? What is the position of the Muslim woman when she sees another woman naked and exposed? And what is the state of the Muslim youth when they see these nude pictures being bought and sold in the lands of the Muslims? Peace be upon those who follow the guidance and the religion of truth, the citizens of this country and the neighboring Arab countries. Signed, Umm

Answer:
This is a great affliction, and it is obligatory for the Muslim to forbid evil. It is not sufficient to write a book; rather, he should participate in forbidding evil. If he sees an evil, this is not permissible for the shop owner, or for anyone other than the shop owner. This is an evil, and this is not permissible. He should raise the matter to whom he thinks will benefit, such as an emir, a judge, a committee, or something similar. The Muslims are a group that forbids; they cooperate and assist one another. Allah says, "And cooperate in righteousness and piety." It is necessary for the believers, when they see evil, to strive to remove it, either by speaking to its owner, advising him, and calling him to good, or by referring it to the rulers, the village where it is located, the court, the committee, or the emir. Because this is the duty of the Muslims. If they cooperate and assist one another, the evil will be removed, or the evil will be lessened, by the permission of Allah. And if they remain silent, the intended result is not achieved, and the sin is upon all of them. Forbidding evil is a necessary matter for everyone, and it is a collective obligation (fard kifayah). If those who are sufficient perform it, it drops off the rest. And if everyone remains silent and everyone leaves it, they all sin. If a person sees an evil in the lands, in Makkah, in Madinah, in any place, in Cairo, in Damascus, in any place, he does what he can. This is not specific to this country over another; rather, whatever he is able to do to forbid evil, he does it. Just as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue. If he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith." And calamities come from silence, turning away, and heedlessness. The promise and the sin are not enough for them. So the Muslims must cooperate in forbidding evil and calling to good wherever they are, even in travel, even in the airplane, even in the train, even in the car. He enjoins good and says, "This is an evil." He does not say, "This is not for me to tell," or "Someone else is responsible for this." No, you are responsible when you see the evil according to your obedience.
If you can do it with your hand because you are a trustee, or because you are the head of a committee, or a member of a committee, and you can, then do what you can. And if you cannot, then with your tongue, you say, "O servant of Allah! This is not permissible. O servant of Allah! Fear Allah! O so-and-so! Fear Allah! O Abu so-and-so! O so-and-so! This is an evil, this is not permissible." Until you participate in the good, and until you do what you can in forbidding what Allah the Exalted has forbidden. And if people cooperate and the number of those who forbid the evil increases, perhaps that person will be ashamed. Perhaps he will be ashamed. Perhaps he will feel shy. Perhaps he will take a lesson and remember. Perhaps Allah will guide him through the hand of the second, or the third, or the fourth, or the tenth.