24th Hadith - Prohibition of Injustice [Muslim: 2577 (a)]

الحديث الرابع و العشرون 

عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ الْغِفَارِي رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ  فِيْمَا يَرْوِيْهِ عَنْ رَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ : يَا عِبَادِي إِنِّي حَرَّمْتُ الظُّلْمَ عَلىَ نَفْسِي وَجَعَلْتُهُ بَيْنَكُمْ مُحَرَّماً، فَلاَ تَظَالَمُوا . يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ  ضَالٌّ إِلاَّ مَنْ هَدَيْتُهُ، فَاسْتَهْدُوْنِي أَهْدِكُمْ . يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ جَائِعٌ إِلاَّ مَنْ أَطْعَمْتُهُ فَاسْتَطْعِمُوْنِي أَطْعِمْكُمْ . يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ عَارٍ إِلاَّ مَنْ كَسَوْتُهُ فَاسْتَكْسُوْنِي أَكْسُكُمْ . يَا عِبَادِي إِنَّكُمْ تُخْطِئُوْنَ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَأَناَ أَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ جَمِيْعاً، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوْنِي أَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ، يَا عِبَادِي إِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَبْلُغُوا ضُرِّي فَتَضُرُّوْنِي، وَلَنْ تَبْلُغُوا نَفْعِي فَتَنْفَعُوْنِي . يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَتْقَى قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ مَا زَادَ ذَلِكَ فِي مُلْكِي شَيْئاً . يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَفْجَرِ قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ مُلْكِي شَيْئاً . يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ قَامُوا فِي صَعِيْدٍ وَاحِدٍ فَسَأَلُوْنِي فَأَعْطَيْتُ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مَسْأَلَتَهُ مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا عِنْدِي إِلاَّ كَمَا يَنْقُصُ الْمَخِيْطُ إِذَا أُدْخِلَ الْبَحْرَ . يَا عِبَادِي إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَعَمَالُكُمْ أُحْصِيْهَا لَكُمْ ثُمَّ أُوْفِيْكُمْ إِيَّاهَا فَمَنْ وَجَدَ خَيْراً فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللهَ وَمَنْ وَجَدَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَلاَ يَلُوْمَنَّ إِلاَّ نَفْسَهُ 

[رواه مسلم]

24th Hadith - Translation

It was relayed on the authority of Abu-Dhar Al-Ghifari (R.A.), that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said, of what he related from his Lord, magnified and exalted be He, Who said:

"O My servants, I have made oppression unlawful for Me and unlawful for you, so do not commit oppression against one another. O My servants, all of you are liable to err except for those whom I guide on the right path, therefore seek guidance from Me so that I should direct you to the right path. O My servants, all of you are hungry (needy) except for those whom I feed, therefore seek food from Me so that I may feed you. O My servants, all of you are naked (need clothes) except for those whom I provide garments, therefore seek clothing from Me so that I should clothe you. O My servants, you sin by night and by day and I am there to pardon your sins, therefore seek forgiveness from Me so that I should grant you pardon. O My servants, you can neither do Me any harm nor can you do Me any good. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of Jinns become as pious as the most pious heart of any one amongst you, it will not add anything to My Power or Kingdom. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of Jinns become as wicked as the most wicked heart of anyone amongst you, it will not decrease anything from My Power or Kingdom. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of Jinns gather together on a sector of land and all ask of Me and if I were to give everyone of them what they asked, that will not in any way decrease what I have anymore than a needle decreases what is in the ocean when it is put into it. O My servants, these deeds of yours which I am recording for you I shall reward you for them, so he who finds good should praise Allah and he who finds other than that should not blame anyone but himself." [Muslim: 2577 (a)]

Brief Narration

This hadith stresses on the prohibition of all forms of injustice and oppression in Islam. It commands its followers to practice justice which is one of the main objectives of the Shariah (law based on the teachings of Quran and Sunnah). It also encourages Muslims to seek guidance from Allah by means of Dua (supplication) and relying on Allah alone (Tawakul).

Even though we are commanded to do our best efforts in carrying out our daily activities, one should not be materialistic and rely on his efforts alone. It is only with Allah's permission and support (Tawfiq) that our efforts become successful.

The hadith shows us the proper relationship between mankind and Allah. It shows us the many attributes of Allah such as being Merciful, Forgiving, Powerful and Compassionate. In contrast, we as human beings are poor, needy and weak. We are in continuous need for Allah, our creator and sustainer. We need His Guidance, Help and Support.

In many verses of the Quran and in the hadiths of the Prophet (S.A.W.), it is explained the importance of showing our need and humbleness to Allah and the worthiness of frequent repentance (Taubah) to Him. He will listen to us and will accept our supplication and repentance. He will be pleased by our supplications (Dua) and Prayers. He will shower on us His Mercy and Blessings and that is what we continuously need. We want to be guided, supported and forgiven. We seek the pleasure of Allah and it is the most important thing that a Muslim may achieve in life. Those who achieve it are described as the most successful people.

(Reference: Commentary of Forty Hadiths of An-Nawawi by Dr. Jamal Ahmed Badi)