Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 619 [Read full issue]
Oppression
"There are three types of dhulm: a type of dhulm that Allah does not leave, a type of dhulm that can be forgiven and a type of dhulm that is not forgiven. The dhulm that is not forgiven is shirk that Allah does not forgive. The dhulm that is forgiven is what is between a person and his Lord. And the dhulm that is not left is the dhulm between the servants [humans]. Allah gives them retribution from one another." [Ahmad]
Everything that Allah has forbidden is, in one way or another, a type of dhulm (oppression), while everything that He has ordered is a form of adl or justice. The greatest injustice is shirk (associating partners with Allah). The Prophet, peace be upon him, was once asked what is the greatest sin. He answered: "It is that you associate a partner with Allah while He created you." [Bukhari, Muslim]
Some of the common forms of dhulm that people commit towards one another are cheating in business transactions, denying one's debt to another, backbiting, killing one another, denying the rights of another and so forth. The one who commits dhulm to others must be especially fearful when he realizes that the supplication of the one he is wronging will be responded by Allah, even if that wronged person were an unbeliever. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: "Protect yourself from the supplication of the one who is wronged, even if he be a disbeliever, for there is no barrier for it [between he/she and Allah]." [Ahmad]
Compiled From:
"Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi" - Jamaal al-Din M. Zarabozo, pp. 918-931