Was my action wrong when I prevented a child from harming a cat, and must I change the wrong with my hand or my tongue, or should I merely remain silent and leave the matter to God?

Enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong is one of the foundational principles of Islam. The Ummah has been described as the best nation because of its adherence to this principle, but it has its rules and regulations. This boy should have been treated with gentleness, and he should have been told kindly that harming any creature, even an animal, is not permissible in Islam, and that a woman entered Hellfire because of a cat she imprisoned. The summary is to forbid evil to the best of one's ability, while seeking the most appropriate methods, farthest from harshness, to ensure the acceptance of the advice.