Riyad as-Salihin, 562
Hadith text · Matn
وعن جابر رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: اتقوا الظلم فإن الظلم ظلمات يوم القيامة واتقوا الشح فإن الشح أهلك من كان قبلكم حملهم على أن سفكوا دماءهم واستحلوا محارمهم” ((رواه مسلم)).
English translation
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Beware of oppression, for oppression will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection; and beware of stinginess because it destroyed those who were before you. It incited them to shed their blood and deem unlawful as lawful." <b>[Muslim]</b>.
References1 variant
- In-Book Reference
- Introduction, Hadith 562
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadith:</b><br>
1) Injustice is a major sin, for its perpetrator is threatened with punishment on the Day of Judgment.<br>
2) We should beware of avarice, as it caused the ruin of those before us. The believers are prohibited from emulating the punished people.<br>
<br>
<b>Benefit:</b><br>
Injustice is of two types:<br>
1) Self-injustice, which falls under two categories:<br>
a. Injustice by associating partners with Allah Almighty - that is great injustice. {Indeed, associating partners [with him] is great injustice.}<br>
b. Injustice by commission of sins - that is less severe than associating partners with Allah.<br>
2) Injustice to others, which also falls under two categories:<br>
a. Doing injustice to them by failing to fulfill their obligatory or recommended rights, like the repayment of debts or fulfillment of promises.<br>
b. Oppressing them by taking their rights and violating their sanctities, like backbiting and stealing.