There is nothing more bitter than the feeling of the oppressed who, due to weakness or inability, cannot fend off themselves. This person harbors resentment towards the society that allowed their injustice, towards the oppressor, and sometimes even towards themselves.
The danger of injustice does not only lie in its impact on the oppressed, but its consequences extend to the society, sowing hatred among its members, instilling fear, weakness, and helplessness, which are unbefitting of a Muslim community.
Therefore, among the gravest crimes that Allah and His Messenger warned against is injustice, which includes violating the rights of others, whether money, honor, or self.
The Prohibition of Injustice
The Quran strongly condemns injustice and links it to disbelief and inevitable destruction. Allah says, “And thus is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the cities while they are committing wrong. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe.” (Hud: 102) He also says, “And how many a city did We destroy while it was committing wrong, so it is [now] fallen into ruin, and [how many] an abandoned well and [how many] a lofty palace.” (Al-Hajj: 45) Allah also states, “And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, ‘Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way.’” (Al-Furqan: 27), and: “And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire, and you would not have other than Allah any protectors; then you would not be helped.” (Hud: 113) Additionally, Allah says, “And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror], racing ahead, their heads raised up, their glance does not come back to them, and their hearts are void.” (Ibrahim: 42-43)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection.” (Sahih Bukhari)
He also said, “Whoever has wronged his brother, should ask for his pardon (before his death), as (in the Hereafter) there will be neither a Dinar nor a Dirham. (He should secure pardon in this life) before some of his good deeds are taken and paid to his brother, or, if he has done no good deeds, some of the bad deeds of his brother are taken to be loaded on him (in the Hereafter).” (Sahih Bukhari)
Abu Dharr al-Ghifari reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, narrating from his Lord, Allah the Almighty: “O MY slaves, I have made oppression unlawful for myself and I have made it unlawful among you, so do not oppress one another.” (Sahih Muslim)
Types of Injustice
- Injustice Against Allah the Almighty
The greatest injustice against Allah is shirk (associating partners with Him). Allah, the One and Only, says, “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray” (An-Nisa :116) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever dies while he is setting up rivals along with Allah (i.e. worshipping others along with Allah) shall be admitted into the (Hell) Fire.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
- Injustice Against Oneself
There is no greater injustice against oneself than sinning and committing acts that anger Allah, thus preventing oneself from His mercy. Allah, in His mercy, has opened the door for repentance and expiation of sins through good deeds, and has made illness and trials as expiation for sins.
This type of injustice involves violating the rights of others in any form, whether emotionally or materially. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “On the Resurrection Day, the rights will be paid to those to whom they are due so much so that a hornless sheep will be retaliated for by punishing the horned sheep which broke its horns.” (Sahih Muslim)
Consequences of Injustice
- Allah Does Not Guide the Wrongdoers:
Many Muslims sin due to weakness or overwhelming desires but still cling to Allah for repentance and forgiveness. However, Allah forgives sins except associating partners with Him. Regarding injustice, Allah says, “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.” (An-Nisa: 48) and He also says, “O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.” (Al-Maida: 51)
- The Wrongdoer is Cursed by Allah:
The curse is the expulsion from Allah’s mercy. Without His mercy, no one can enter Paradise, no matter how many good deeds they have. Allah says, “The Day their excuse will not benefit the wrongdoers, and they will have the curse, and they will have the worst home.” (Ghafir: 52)
- The Oppressor Will Face the Du’a of the Oppressed:
Even if the oppressor can inflict harm on the oppressed who cannot defend themselves, the oppressed has the power of du’a, which can shake the heavens. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Be afraid, from the curse of the oppressed as there is no screen between his invocation and Allah.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
- Causes the Destruction of Communities (1):
The spread of injustice does not only harm the oppressor and the oppressed but acts as a plague that destroys the fabric of society, igniting hatred and destruction instead of love and affection. Allah says, “And how many a city did We destroy while it was committing wrong, so it is [now] fallen into ruin, and [how many] an abandoned well and [how many] a lofty palace.” (Al-Hajj: 45) He also states, “And thus is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the cities while they are committing wrong. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe.” (Hud: 102)
- Spreads Chaos in Societies:
When injustice prevails, chaos spread, and security is lifted among the simple people. Allah says, “They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice - those will have security, and they are [rightly] guided” (Al-Anam: 82)
- Brings Calamity upon All:
One might wonder why the oppressed also suffer if injustice reverts to its perpetrator. The answer is that injustice is a test for both the oppressor and the oppressed. The oppressed must not surrender and must resist injustice, defending their rights. Those who witness injustice should also oppose it to avoid collective punishment, even if they cannot repel it. Allah says, “And they planned a plan, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then look how was the outcome of their plan - that We destroyed them and their people, all [together]. So those are their houses, desolate because of the wrong they had done. Indeed in that is a sign for people who know.” (An-Naml: 50-52)
- Leads to Hellfire:
Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allah gives respite to the oppressor, but when He takes him over, He never releases him. Then he recited:-- “Such is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes (population of) towns in the midst of their wrong: Painful indeed, and severe is His seizure.” (11.102) (Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
- The Wrongdoer is Deprived of Intercession:
Allah says, “For the wrongdoers there will be no devoted friend and no intercessor [who is] obeyed.” (Ghafir: 18)
- The Wrongdoer Never Succeeds:
Allah states, “Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed.” (Al-Anam: 21) He also says, “And when they had thrown, Moses said, ‘What you have brought is [only] magic. Indeed, Allah will expose its worthlessness. Indeed, Allah does not amend the work of corrupters’” (Yunus: 81)
- Blessings are Removed from the Life of the Oppressor and Those Around Him:
Blessings come from the prayers of the weak and the closeness of a person to Allah. The wrongdoer is far from these qualities, leading to a life of hardship, even if it appears otherwise to people. The ill effects of their actions are evident in the behavior of their children, spouse, and health. The most frightening thing is that Allah extends time to the wrongdoer, but when He seizes him, He does not let him go.
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(1) Al-Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldoun.
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