The Muslim does not behave unjustly, nor should he be dealt with unjustly. He is not the cause of oppression for anyone, nor does he accept being oppressed by anyone. There are three types of oppression which are forbidden according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
Allah the Almighty says:
| “Deal not unjustly, and you shall not be dealt with unjustly.”(2:279) |
Allah the Almighty says:
| “And whoever among you does wrong, We shall make him taste a great torment.” (25:19) |
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said that Allah the Exalted and Glorious said:
| “O My servants, I have taken it upon Myself to wrong no one; and have made oppression forbidden for you, so do not oppress one another.”(Muslim). |
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said:
| “Beware of oppression, for oppression will be a darkness on the Day of Resurrection .” (Muslim) |
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said:
| “Whoever unlawfully usurps even one span of someone’s land, Allah will collar him with seven earths.” (Agreed upon) |
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said:
| “Verily, Allah gives respite to the oppressor. But when He seizes him, He does not let him escape.” (Agreed upon) |
Then he ﷺ recited:
| “Such is the punishment of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns which they are doing wrong. Verily, His punishment is painful (and) severe.” (11:102) |
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said:
| “Beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah.” (Agreed upon) |
Three Types of Injustice
1. One deals unjustly with his Lord. This occurs when he disbelieves in Allah. Allah the Almighty says:
| “And it is the disbelievers who are the wrongdoers.” (2:254) |
It also occurs when he associates others with Allah in worship by rendering some of his acts of worship to other than Allah. Allah the Almighty says:
| “Verily, joining others in worship with Allah is a great wrong indeed.” (31:13) |
2. One deals unjustly with someone else. This occurs by harming them, either in matters related to their honor, or physically, or their wealth without any right. Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said:
| “He who has done a wrong affecting his brother’s honor or anything else, must ask his forgiveness for it today before the time when he will have neither a dinar nor a dirham. If he has done some good deeds, a portion equal to his wrongdoings will be subtracted from them; but if he has no good deeds, he will be burdened with the evil deeds in the same proportion of the one he wronged.” (Al-Bukhari) |
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said:
| “Whoever usurps the right of a Muslim by his oath, then Allah has made the Fire obligatory for him, and Paradise prohibited for him.”Someone asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Even if it should be for an insignificant thing?” He said: “Even if it be a stick of the Arak tree” (Muslim) |
Allah’s Messenger .ﷺ said:
| “A believer continues to preserve his religion as long as he does not unjustly shed blood.” (Al-Bukhari) |
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said:
| “All of the Muslim is sacred to the Muslim, his blood, his honor and his wealth.” (Muslim) |
3. One commits an injustice against himself. This occurs by committing many wrongs against himself, various vices and crimes, as well as numerous sinful practices and acts of disobedience to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
Allah the Almighty says:
| “And they did not harm Us but they wronged their souls. (2:57) |
He who commits a major sin and immoral acts is wronging himself. Such behavior will result in being cursed by Allah and removed from His Mercy.
