In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Al-Allamah Salih al Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, said:

When punishment descends on the disobedient ones, it touches both the righteous and the wicked, except the one who rejects evil. Indeed he (the one who rejects evil) will be saved. As for the one who did not reject evil, he will be destroyed even if he is a righteous person. He will be destroyed along with those who are destroyed, just as what occurred regarding Ashaab As-Sabr (those who violated the Sabbath). Allah, Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections, did not mention anything concerning those who kept quiet (i.e. those who refrained from rejecting evil), rather He only mentioned those who forbade evil.

As for the second group, those who said:

 وَإِذۡ قَالَتۡ أُمَّةٌ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ لِمَ تَعِظُونَ قَوۡمًا‌ۙ ٱللَّهُ مُهۡلِكُهُمۡ أَوۡ مُعَذِّبُہُمۡ عَذَابً۬ا شَدِيدً۬ا‌ۖ

Why do you preach to a people whom Allah is about to destroy or to punish with a severe torment? [Al-A’raf. 164)]

Allah kept quiet about them (i.e. those who made this statement), no information is given regarding whether they were either amongst the destroyed or those saved. What is apparent is that they were amongst the destroyed. Allah said:

لُعِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُ ۥدَ وَعِيسَى ٱبۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ بِمَا عَصَواْ وَّڪَانُواْ يَعۡتَدُونَ
ڪَانُواْ لَا يَتَنَاهَوۡنَ عَن مُّنڪَرٍ۬ فَعَلُوهُ‌ۚ لَبِئۡسَ مَا ڪَانُواْ يَفۡعَلُونَ

Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Daawood and Eesaa, son of Maryam. That was because they disobeyed (Allaah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bounds. They used not to forbid one another from evil which they committed. Vile indeed was what they used to do. [Al-Ma’idah. 78-79]

After the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, recited this statement of Allah, he said, “The reason being cursed was because they did not forbid one another from evil which they committed. So Allah cursed all of them”.

He said: “By no means, I swear by Allah, you must enjoin good and forbid evil, prevent the wrongdoer, bend him into conformity with what is right, and restrict him to what is right, or Allah will mingle your hearts together and curse you as He cursed them”. [Abu Dawud]

An Excerpt from “The Means To Safety For The Ummah”. page 5