لُعِنَ   الَّذِیۡنَ   کَفَرُوۡا  مِنۡۢ   بَنِیۡۤ    اِسۡرَ آءِ یۡلَ  عَلٰی   لِسَانِ  دَا وٗدَ  وَ  عِیۡسَی  ابۡنِ  مَـرۡ  یَمَ  ؕ  ذٰ لِکَ بِمَا عَصَوۡا                      وَّ    کَا نُوۡا  یَعۡتَدُوۡنَ   ﴿۷۸﴾    کَا نُوۡ ا   لَا   یَتَنَا ہَوۡنَ   عَنۡ   مُّنۡکَرٍ  فَعَلُوۡہُ    ؕ   لَبِئۡسَ   مَا   کَا نُوۡا   یَفۡعَلُوۡنَ   ﴿۷۹﴾

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: Those among the descendants of Israel who turned disbelievers were cursed by the tongue of Dawood, and of ‘Isa the son of Maryam; it was because of their disobedience and their rebellion. They did not restrain one another from the evil they used to do; undoubtedly they used to commit extremely evil deeds. (Part 6, Surah Al-Mai`dah, verse 78-79)

This blessed verse reveals the reason why disbelievers are severely cursed, due to them abandoning the call towards righteousness. We have realised through this verse that ‘نَهۡيٌ عَنِ الۡمُنۡكَر’ i.e., it is Wajib (absolutely necessary) to prevent people from evil acts and to not prevent evil is a major sin. A blessed Hadis from Sunan-ut-Tirmizi conveys that initially the scholars of Bani Israel forbade their people from indulging in sins, when they did not avoid sins, the scholars also joined their gathering and drank and ate with them, this transgression resulted in the curse of Sayyiduna Dawood and Sayyiduna ‘Isa      عَـلَـيْـهِمَا الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام. (Khazain-ul-‘Irfan, pp. 232)

In another Quranic verse it is stated:

وَ  ا تَّقُوۡ ا   فِتۡنَۃً   لَّا  تُصِیۡبَنَّ   الَّذِ یۡنَ   ظَلَمُوۡا  مِنۡکُمۡ   خَآصَّۃً  ۚ  وَ  اعۡلَمُوۡۤ ا    اَنَّ   اللّٰہَ   شَدِ یۡدُ   ا لۡعِقَابِ    ﴿۲۵﴾

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: And fear the turmoil which will certainly not fall only upon a few selected unjust people among you; and know that Allah’s punishment is severe.

(Part 9, Surah Al-Anfal, verse 25)

Regarding the abovementioned verse Sadr-ul-Afaadil, ‘Allamah Maulana Sayyid Muhammad Na’eemuddin Muradabadi عَـلَيْهِ رَحۡمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ الۡـهَادِی has stated: If you did not fear nor quit forbidden acts, then disorder would follow as a result and would afflict not only the cruel and wicked but also the righteous and virtuous people.

Sayyiduna Ibn-e-‘Abbas رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُمَا said: Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has commanded the believers to forbid prohibited acts amongst themselves, i.e., they prevent evils using the power of authority within their capacities. If they do not carry it out, torment will affect all of them whether they are sinful or sinless. (Tafseer Tabari, vol. 6, pp. 217, Raqm 15923)

It is stated in a blessed Hadis, the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, ‘Allah does not exact general retribution due to the deed of specific people unless people continue to see forbidden deeds being committed among them and, despite being able to prevent and forbid them,