Oppression and injustice
Islam was revealed to protect the natural rights of all human beings, their inalienable rights to religion, life, mind, progeny, lineage, honor and property. Violating these rights for any reason without a just cause is a major sin in Islam. According to Islam, dhulm, translated as injustice is the misplacement of things by conferring upon undeserving people the rights belonging to others, and elevating those who are not qualified over the noble and qualified ones in position or power – or other honors - for ulterior motives.
Regarding injustice that manifests in misappropriating people’s wealth resorting to various schemes, Almighty Allah tells us the following in the Noble Quran, translated as: “O you who believe, do not illicitly consume each other’s wealth! But, rather, let there be free trade with (mutual) consent among yourselves. And do not kill one another. Indeed, Allah is ever Merciful to you.” (An-Nisa’a – Women 4: 29-30)
Note that everything that Almighty Allah and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) forbade is morally reprehensible. We learn from the above-quoted verse that ‘mutual consent’ means that the exchange should be free of undue pressure, fraud and deception or under pressure – among other qualities. Furthermore, one should not kill others for the purpose of taking their wealth or property illicitly.
Almighty Allah has prohibited oppression and injustice to Himself, and so, we should avoid them. Abu Dharr Al-Ghifa’rei (Companion of Prophet Muhammad PBUH) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) related that Almighty Allah said in Al-Hadeeth Al-Qudsei (statements issued by Allah, but rephrased by Prophet Muhammad PBUH who attributes them to Allah): “O My servants, I have forbidden injustice for Myself, and made it forbidden among you. So, do not oppress (and treat unjustly) one another.” (Muslim # 2, 577)
If Almighty Allah, to Whom belongs everything on earth and in the heavens, confirms to us that He will not oppress anyone whatsoever, what about you and me? Those who continuously oppress people and treat them unfairly, if they do not repent, they will face hardships in various ways on Judgment Day. Jabir bin Abdullah (RA)
related that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said: “Beware of injustice (and oppression). For oppression will be darkness on Judgment Day. And beware of stinginess; for it destroyed those who preceded you. It incited them to shed blood and make lawful what was unlawful.” (Muslim # 2, 598)
In the above-quoted hadith (prophetic narration), the darkness alluded to mean that on Judgment Day, every person will have to cross a bridge, which will be over the Hellfire, in order to enter Paradise. The person’s good deeds will act as a light so that one crosses the bridge easily and enters Paradise. If someone oppresses others, or is an unrepentant disbeliever, or a hypocrite, or a Muslim with very few good deeds, then they will not receive this necessary brightness to cross the bridge. The darkness in the above-quoted hadith also refers to a variety of horrendous events that will unfold on Judgment Day from which an oppressive on unjust person will suffer severely.
The oppressed person’s supplication is readily accepted by Almighty Allah: Abu Huraira (Companion of Prophet Muhammad PBUH) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said: “The supplication of three categories of people is never turned back: A fasting person until he breaks the fast, a just leader, and the supplication of the oppressed person (treated unfairly). That supplication is raised above the clouds by Almighty Allah, the gates of heaven are opened for it, and the Lord says, translated as: “By My Might, I will Rescue you in due time (even if it takes a while.)” (Al-Albani rated it as authentic in Sahih At-Tirmidhi # 3, 598)
It is clear from the above-quoted Hadeeth and others that Almighty Allah will always answer the supplication of the oppressed even if the oppressed person is an unbeliever or a sinner. Justice is a universal right for all people in Islam. People have the right to be protected in their religion, lives, mind, family/honor and property. If we fail to fulfill their rights, then we have surrendered our fate to their supplication.
No matter how strong a tyrant of an oppressor is, time will come when he/she will be devoid of all the powers they wielded, and nothing will be of benefit to him/her. He will surrender to Almighty Allah willingly or unwillingly. Almighty Allah tells us in the Noble Quran, translated as: “And humbled will be (all) faces to the Infinitely Living (Allah), the Self-Sustaining and Self-Subsisting. And truly failed is the one laden with evildoing. But whoever performs righteous deeds, and is a believer, he will have no fear of being wronged or defrauded.” (Taha 20: 111 – 112)
Finally, injustice and oppression are the most heinous crimes plaguing human societies. The misuse of power in the form of money, authority, weapons, and media - among others - has led to the violation and misplacement of rights, resulting in the suffering of the innocent. The ruination and failure of oppressors is an inevitable divine promise, and a universal law. — Courtesy of Kuwaiti Society for Cultural Dialogue