Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān:

Many of the people throw the responsibility of commanding the good on others. They say “This (affair) has been enjoined upon so and so, it is upon the Commission, it is upon such and such..” Yes! It is upon the Commission of Commanding the Good and Preventing the Evil, this is a great obligation and this is their job. However, upon you likewise are responsibilities. Upon every Muslim are responsibilities.

[The Prophet ﷺ said,] “Whosoever from you sees an evil must change it with his hand, and if he is not able then he should do it with his tongue, and if he cannot do so then with his heart and that is the weakest of faith.” But for you to say this is not upon me, rather it is upon the Commission only, while you deceive others and remain upon what the people are upon, and not prohibit or reject (the evil) nor advise, nor call to Allah nor admonish or remind [the people], then this is destruction. [The Prophet said,] “If he is not able then he should do it with his tongue, and if he cannot do so then with his heart and that is the weakest of faith.”

Similarly, upon you is the obligation of your household. Allāh ﷻ said,

۞ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ

O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones..” (Q 66:6)

The Commission do not know about [the condition of] your house. The person in authority does not know about [the condition of] of your house. You are responsible for those in your house, the women, children and guests; you are responsible since the people [in authority] do not know about those in your house, so you are the one responsible.

[The Prophet ﷺ said,] “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. The ruler is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. A man is the shepherd of his family and is responsible for his flock. A woman is the shepherd of her husband’s household and is responsible for her flock. A servant is the shepherd of his master’s wealth and is responsible for his flock.” So each one of you is a shepherd and each of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.” [Narrated by al-Bukhārī, 583; Muslim, 1829.]

Therefore commanding the good and preventing the evil is a collective duty and the Muslim is not exempted from it, though (it differs) according to the level of ability. [The Prophetﷺ said,] “Whoever sees an evil from you then let him change it with his hands.” The owner of the house changes (the evil) of his household with his hand, he has the hand (power) over his household. Allah has given you the hand (authority) over your household, so change (the evil) with your hand. Remove the evil from your house, discipline (those who have transgressed) in your house, and no one can object to this, because you are the shepherd over your household. [But for] you to say, “No this is the responsibility of the Commission.” So to leave your house in ruin and say, “No this is the responsibility of the Commission.” This is a great mistake.

It is upon the Muslims to set-aright every one among them according to the level of authority that Allāh has given them. Therefore, the shepherd of the house is responsible for his household. The school principle is responsible for his school, those who teach and study within it, he is responsible for them. The director of the office is responsible for the workers who follows his [directorship]. Everyone has responsibilities of commanding the good and preventing the evil and calling to Allāh using wisdom and good admonition. But for everyone to keep silent and to hide (ignore) the evil and say “the law is upon so and so”… no my brother!

Yes, such a person has responsibilities, however you too have responsibilities. So without a doubt commanding the good and preventing the evil is [one] cause of the Ummah’s salvation. It is upon every Muslim according to his ability to command the good and prevent the evil and he does not leave it while he has the ability, at all, even if it is with his heart.  No one is incapable to prohibit the evil with his heart, never. Meaning to reject the evil, and to move it away from himself and from his family, no one is incapable to this. Yes, [incapable to do it] with the hands and the tongue [is probable], but with the heart, no one is incapable. No one is unable to reject the evil with his heart, and due to this the Prophetﷺ said “There is no faith beyond that, not even the weight of a mustard seed.”

The one who does not reject the evil with his heart is not a believer; there is not in his heart even the weight of a mustard seed worth of faith. [This is] if he is pleased with the evil and he does not prohibit it from himself nor does he hate it in his heart, there is no faith in it. [The Prophet said] “There is no faith beyond that, not even the weight of a mustard seed.” So this is an outline of some of the causes of the Ummah’s salvation.