Is the default in enjoining good and forbidding evil gentleness or harshness?

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Question:
Honorable Shaykh, the questioner asks: Is the default in enjoining good and forbidding evil gentleness or harshness? We see that there are many hadiths regarding the gentleness of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with his Companions, and few hadiths indicating the use of force to change what is wrong.

Answer:
People differ. The ignorant person is treated with gentleness, but as for the stubborn one, the stubborn one who is not ignorant, the necessary measure is taken with him, including disciplining him. People differ, and Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:

And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them

وَلَا تُجَادِلُوا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ

[Al-'Ankabut 29:46]

meaning the stubborn ones; these people have a different solution. If the one who commits what is wrong is ignorant, he is treated with gentleness, taught, and it is explained to him with kindness and softness. But if he is stubborn, then the people of hisbah (religious police) and the rulers take action against him. Yes.

Source قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، هل الأصل في الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر الرفق أو الغلظة؟ للشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com

The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.

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