Question:[1]
Is it possible for each Muslim to be a caller to goodness and to direct people (to good). This is because I see some people criticise the one who does that, saying: ‘You are not a scholar, so remain silent.’ Are the ones who call to Allāh the scholars only?
Shaykh Bin Bāz (رحمه الله):
Everyone who has knowledge should call to it. If he has knowledge and insight (baṣīrah) in a matter, he should call to it, even if he is not from the scholars, but (it should be) within the limits of his knowledge.
Like warning against fornication, (the sin of) fornication is known. He warns from homosexuality, he warns from alcohol, he calls the one who drinks alcohol to repent to Allāh. This does not require scholars, this is known to the general and special folk.
He warns from backbiting and tale-carrying. He encourages the people to pray in congregation in the mosques. He encourages people to be righteous to parents and keep ties of kinship and not break them. These affairs are known to the special and general folk.
As for those affairs which are hidden (unclear) to him, and he has no knowledge regarding them, he should not speak about them. It is not permissible for him to speak in something he does not know.
Everyone who has knowledge of the truth, with the truth in the matter being clear, and he has insight into the matter, and knows its evidence, then he should be caller to it.
The obligations are clear, the prohibitions are clear, the affairs of creed are clear, the affairs of Tawḥīd are clear. All of those affairs which have been made clear in the Qurʾān and the Sunnah and by the scholars of the Muslims, those whose evidences are clear, if a person has knowledge regarding them and is clear about them, then he should be a caller to them, with wisdom and good manners.
Thus, every Muslim is a caller to whatever good he knows, he enjoins good and prohibits evil, so good is widespread and evil is minimised. Hence, it is not just the scholars who have the responsibility of enjoining the good and prohibiting the evil, it is for everyone who knows what is good and what is evil, so long as he remains within the limits of his knowledge.