Changing An Evil By Force Is the Duty of the Leaders Who Are Responsible For the Affairs of the Muslims
Question :
There are those who do not desist from evil except if they are forced to desist. How do we deal with such people?
Answer:
Force that does not serve the general welfare and that causes more harm than good is not permitted. It is obligatory to follow wisdom, and only those who are in authority can apply force beating and imprisoning. The general population should propagate the truth and warn against evil. Changing evil, though, especially when it is with the hand, is left to the authorities. They are the ones who are obligated to remove an evil according to their ability, and they will be asked about this responsibility.
If a person were to remove an evil with his hand at every opportunity, an evil perhaps greater than the original evil may result. This is why it is necessary to use wisdom in this matter.
Aperson can, though, remove an evil with his hand (by force) if that evil is committed in the house that he is the head of. But forcefully changing an evil that occurs in the marketplace would be worse than having left it to remain. Yet, in this case, it is obligatory for that person to inform those who have the authority of changing such evils in the marketplace.
Source:
Ibn 'Uthaimin
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 8 Pages 64-65
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