What is the ruling on enjoining good and forbidding evil for the general public?

He also has another question, which is: What is the ruling on enjoining good and forbidding evil for the specialists and the general public? That is, are the remaining Muslims excused if they do not enjoin good and forbid evil because they do not receive a salary for doing so?
Answer: This is a great issue that it is obligatory for the people of Islam to focus on and to magnify, just as Allah magnified it, and that is: enjoining good and forbidding evil. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has made clear that enjoining good and forbidding evil is among the characteristics of the believers. This is not specific to men to the exclusion of women, nor to women to the exclusion of men, but it is upon everyone. It is not specific to the people of hisbah (public order) who have salaries and have been appointed for this matter. No. Rather, it concerns everyone. However, it is more obligatory and the responsibility is greater for the people of hisbah and the prominent figures among the rulers, scholars, and those who are capable. But the command is general for everyone: the scholars, the general public, the young and the old among those of legal age, the rulers, and the judges. Each of them has his obligatory duty and his share of this command. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said in His great Book: [At-Tawbah: 71]. Thus, He mentioned that enjoining good and forbidding evil is among the characteristics of the believing men and believing women.
This is one of the obligatory duties and one of the morals of the believing men and believing women. It is obligatory for them not to be lax in it. Rather, it is obligatory for them to enjoin good and forbid evil, as Allah mentioned this among their characteristics. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: : [Al-Imran: 110].
And Allah censured the disbelievers of the Children of Israel and cursed them for their disobedience, transgression, and failure to restrain one another from evil. He said, Mighty and Majestic: [Al-Ma'idah: 79], after He mentioned that He cursed the disbelievers of the Children of Israel through the tongue of Dawud and 'Isa ibn Maryam. Then He said: [Al-Ma'idah: 78]. Then He explained the disobedience and transgression by saying: [Al-Ma'idah: 79]. So He censured them and blamed them, and cursed their disbelievers who committed this evil and were lax in it.
So it is obligatory for the Muslim to beware of the characteristics of the disbelievers, and not to be of their morals. Rather, he should be far from the morals of the disbelievers and be one who enjoins good and forbids evil, so that he is safe from the general and specific punishment.
And He said, Mighty and Majestic, in another verse: [Al-Imran: 104]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . This is a great warning that indicates that if people are lax in enjoining good and forbidding evil, the punishment will encompass them. The punishment may be in the hearts by blinding them, sealing them, making them sick, and turning them away from the truth. It may also be through other punishments, such as the empowerment of enemies, the overflowing of waters, general diseases, and various punishments due to being lax in this great obligatory duty.
In summary, this is a great matter. Enjoining good and forbidding evil is a great matter, a sacred obligation, a fard upon the Muslims. If a sufficient number of people in a town or village perform it, it drops off the rest. But if a sufficient number do not perform it, it becomes obligatory upon the rest, and they sin by leaving it. If you are in a place in a village or town, or in a mosque or neighborhood, where there is an apparent evil and it is not forbidden, it is obligatory for you to forbid it and not be lax in it, because no one has been found to forbid it and take your place.
So it is obligatory for you to forbid the evil wherever you are, according to your ability, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , which Muslim narrated in the Sahih. This indicates that there are levels, and that it is obligatory upon every Muslim, and that he forbids it according to his ability: with his hand, then with his tongue, then with his heart. Forbidding with the heart is by changing, becoming angry, disliking it, and leaving the gathering in which the evil is present if they do not respond to his prohibition and forbidding. This is how the believer is. And he said, peace and blessings be upon him: . And he said: . And he also said, peace and blessings be upon him: . This indicates the great seriousness of the matter.
We are in an era in which most people are lax, in which zeal has weakened, in which evil has spread, and in which forbidding has decreased. So it is obligatory for the Muslim not to adopt this character and not to be deceived by people. Likewise, the Muslim woman in her home, with her children, and with her neighbors, must be zealous for Allah, Mighty and Majestic. She must forbid evil to her daughter, her sister, her servant, and those around her, and to whom she sees in the markets and outside the markets. She forbids evil with her hand or her tongue according to her ability. To her children, she forbids evil with her hand and removes the evil. To the people of her household, such as servants and others, and in other matters, she forbids with her tongue according to her ability, just like the man. Each of them has his obligatory duty of forbidding with the hand, then the tongue, then the heart. And by this, matters will be rectified, societies will be rectified, good will appear in them, virtues will prevail, and vices will decrease. But if people are lax and see evils and do not change them, vices will spread, virtues will decrease, and the side of enjoining and forbidding will weaken due to laxity. And the general and specific punishments are feared for everyone. And there is no power and no strength except with Allah.
The presenter: Thank you! May Allah reward you.