Help The Oppressor (Ahadith 2120 – 2121)

Bismillah.

Allah says in the Quran:

“…And do not help one another in sin and oppression; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is severe in requiting evil.” [5:2]

Isn’t there a conflict between this ayah and the title of the post? Well, not really.

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 623:
Narrated Anas bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one.”

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 624:
Narrated Anas (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one. People asked, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “By preventing him from oppressing others.”

Yes, even the oppressor needs help. Help him stop his zulm in this dunya, so Allah doesn’t punish him in the aakhirah! You are his brother in Islam, and it is upon you to help him.

Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever has oppressed another person concerning his reputation or anything else, he should beg him to forgive him before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on him.”{Volume 3, Book 43, Number 629: Sahih Bukhari}

And that ^ is something we all need to fear. May Allah protect us from oppression – whether it’s at the giving end or the receiving one.

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