The Danger of Oppression

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Abu Musa, may Allah be pleased with him, said, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Verily, Allah will give respite to the oppressor until when He seizes him and he cannot escape”. Then he [i.e. the Messenger] recited the verse:

وَكَذَٲلِكَ أَخۡذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَآ أَخَذَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ وَهِىَ ظَـٰلِمَةٌ‌ۚ إِنَّ أَخۡذَهُ ۥۤ أَلِيمٌ۬ شَدِيدٌ

Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful, and severe]. [Hud. 102]

Al-Allamah Zaid Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

There is a warning against oppression in this lofty hadith- oppression against oneself through different levels and types of sins. The one whom Allah has given wealth, good health, safety and stability while he persists upon sin, this is Allah’s plan in stages against this sinner because he deserves it;

 وَلَا يَظۡلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدً۬ا

And your Lord treats no one with injustice. [Al-Kahf. 49]

There’s a warning – in this hadith – against oppressing others because the one who oppresses others is called an oppressor and the one who oppresses himself through sins is called an oppressor. Therefore, the one who oppresses himself and the one who oppresses others are (exposed) to great danger in this life, in the grave and in the afterlife. If Allah gives him respite and does not hasten punishment against him, then indeed Allah reserves for him the punishment he deserves due to the statement of Allah:

وَكَذَٲلِكَ أَخۡذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَآ أَخَذَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ وَهِىَ ظَـٰلِمَةٌ‌ۚ إِنَّ أَخۡذَهُ ۥۤ أَلِيمٌ۬ شَدِيدٌ

Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful, and severe.

This is how the hadith is in agreement with the noble verse, that if Allah gives respite to an oppressor, it is not that Allah has neglected his affair. If Allah delays punishment against him in the worldly life, Allah multiplies it for him in the hereafter, thus, he is recompensed based on what he did and the evil deeds he committed. Allah is the possessor of (perfect) wisdom, because He recompenses a doer based on his deed- good recompense for good deeds and evil recompense for evil deeds. [1]

Allah, The Most High, said:

وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً‏
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ‏

And fear a trial (of affliction) which does not affect (only) those who have done wrong among you in particular. And know that Allāh is severe in punishment. [Al-Anfal 25]

وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً‏

And fear a trial (of affliction) which does not affect (only) those who have done wrong among you in particular.

Imam As-Sadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Rather, it afflicts the perpetrator of oppression and others as well. This is because when oppression is apparent and is not stopped or resisted, then indeed, its punishment (afflicts) both the perpetrator and other than him. This Fitna is averted through forbidding evil, suppressing the people of evil and corruption, and so that they are not able to commit sins and oppression as much as possible (to prevent it). [2]

[1] at-Taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaith As-Saheehah. 1/100

[2] An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi