Etiquette of Guarding Against Oppression (Az-Zulm) in the Quran & Sunnah
Etiquette of Guarding Against Oppression (Az-Zulm) in the Quran & Sunnah
Oppression in Islam (az-zulm): Allah forbidding it upon Himself, oppression as darkness on the Day of Resurrection, and the respite that is not an escape, from the Quran and authentic Sunnah.
Part 1: Oppression in the Light of the Quran
1. The way lies only against those who oppress people.
Allah says:
إِنَّمَا ٱلسَّبِيلُ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَظْلِمُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَيَبْغُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Blame, in fact, is upon those who wrong people and make mischief on earth unjustly. For such people there is a painful punishment. (Surah Ash-Shura 42:42)
Blame and punishment are directed, by Allah’s own words, at those who wrong people and rebel in the earth without right — and “for them is a painful punishment.”
2. “Do not think Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do.”
Allah says:
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَـٰفِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ
Never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers are doing. He is but giving them respite up to a day when the eyes shall remain upraised (in terror). (Surah Ibrahim 14:42)
The delay of the oppressor is not neglect: “He only postpones them to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.” The respite is a rope, not an escape.
Part 2: Guarding Against Zulm in the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ
1. “O My servants, I have forbidden oppression upon Myself…”
Allah, the Exalted, said in the sacred hadith: “O My servants, I have forbidden oppression (zulm) upon Myself and have made it forbidden among you — so do not oppress one another.”
Lesson: The King who could never be unjust declares injustice unlawful from His own throne downward; no rank beneath it can license what He forbade Himself.
2. Beware oppression — it is darkness upon darkness on that Day.
Jabir reported: “Be on your guard against oppression, for oppression is darkness on the Day of Resurrection; and be on your guard against greed, for greed destroyed those who were before you.”
Lesson: The deed done under today’s bright lights is met there as darkness; the oppressor walks his own deeds.
3. Oppression will be a darkness on the Day of Resurrection.
Ibn ‘Umar reported the same warning in the shortest of forms: “Oppression will be a darkness on the Day of Resurrection.”
Lesson: Five words to carry into every dispute, every contract, every position of power over anyone weaker.
Adab No. 74 — all evidences for this entry, taken from the DeenHub Global library. Open any link to read the original hadith or ayah in full.
- Part 1, Point 1: Surah Ash-Shura (42), Ayah 42
- Part 1, Point 2: Surah Ibrahim (14), Ayah 42
- Part 2, Point 1: Sahih Muslim 2577a (Sahih)
- Part 2, Point 2: Sahih Muslim 2578 (Sahih)
- Part 2, Point 3: Sahih al-Bukhari 2447 (Sahih)