10. Is the responsibility of “Enjoining what is Right and Forbidding what is Evil” the responsibility of all Muslims or a certain group of Muslims?
For a car that is being driven on the wrong side of the road, there are two potential encounters that may occur:
1. All those on the road honk their horns and flash their lights to alert the driver of their offence.
2. The driver is caught by police and an infringement penalty is issued.
The Qur’an also advices all Muslims to participate in Enjoining what is Right and Forbidding Evil as in the following Ayah:
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۚ مِّنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ
But also suggests that a certain group have that responsibility:
وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity.” 2
