Sunday, March 20, 2011

Islamic philosophy - Power of the Oppressed!


We get into depression on being oppressed or wronged. Some of us even commit suicide. But fear not. God is Just towards those who have been wronged. He will compensate for the pain we're subject to for no fault of ours! The oppressor could be a leader, husband, king of the occupied state or anyone who oppresses others in any circumstance. He/ she could be a person who has caused harm or hurt someone. We should endure with 'Patience' to get fruits of it. Of course, committing suicide is a sin and the one who commits it loses out on the benefits granted to the 'oppressed person'.


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} God is definately the Best Judge. Those who wrong us, hurt us or oppress us (in any way), are indirectly doing us a favour. When on the Day of Judgement, we are falling short of good deeds, the good deeds of our oppressor will come to our aid. If that person has no good deeds to give us, then some of our sins will be passed on to the oppressor!

What if we forgive these people ? Definately, our 'good deeds' scale will go up! And our oppressor's particular deed of oppression will come down. But this seems additional apart from what's in store for us and our oppressors on the Day of Judgement. They of course will compensate us through their good deeds or take load of our sins to the extent of oppression of wrong done.


Every Hadeeth has an in-depth philosophy in itself!


Allah’s Apostle (pbuh) said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one. People asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?” The Prophet said, “By preventing him from oppressing others.”

{Volume 3, Book 43, Number 624:Sahih Bukhari}.

The oppressor and the oppressed both need help. It is a good deed to help the oppressed get their right in this world. Same way, we will be doing a favour on many others (who could have been wrong in the future) , including the oppressor by showing him/ her the right path. This again is a good deed adding to our scale of goodness.


This is reiterated in Quran too.


And what is wrong with you that you fight not in the Cause of Allâh, and for those weak, illtreated and oppressed among men, women, and children, whose cry is: “Our Lord! Rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You one who will protect, and raise for us from You one who will help.” [004:075: Al Quran]


We will reserve the houses of the hereafter exclusively for those who do not seek self-glory in this life and do not cause oppression and corruption to spread. The final outcome belongs to those who fear (Allah). [028:083: Al Quran]


Here is it clear that God calls upon us all to fight for the cause of the oppressed and the wronged people in the world. There are several of these people all around us. And they're waiting for us to be rescued. Abducted children, molested kids, kids forced into illegal acts, some neighbour being ill-treated by in-laws, a orphan being beaten by his own relatives; injustice, corruption and a lot more issues which affect us and others around us....


Apart from all, the 'oppressed' or 'wronged' person has another power, will can destroy the oppressor. The bad words he mutters against his oppressor in his pain and anger.



The Prophet (pbuh) sent Mu’adh to Yemen and said, “Be afraid, from the curse of the oppressed as there is no screen between his invocation and Allah.”

{Volume 3, Book 43, Number 628: Sahih Bukhari}


But in many places in Quran and Hadeeth, 'non-cursing' is highlighted. Maybe, Allah Himself knows how an oppressed's curse can cause harm. Hence HE has put more rewards for 'Patience' and 'Forgiveness'. So we gain doubly. One - compensation due to being oppressed (from our oppressor himself) plus additional score for 'forgiveness' and 'patience'. But though 'cursing others' or muttering bad words against our oppressor is not highlighted as something good, there is no harm upon us if we say something in total pain and agony. Allah is Understanding and definately the Best Judge!

4 comments:

samurai said...

islam which contains such clear guidance to the people has obtained a bad reputation.islam gets totally into the thought and being of its followers, that they probably make the mistake of reacting to political issues by viewing them through the religious prism. the followers of islam, who are faced with political problems, must not view the enemy/rival/oppressor as evil, just because the opponent professes another way of life. the followers of islam must realise that they are gifted with such a simple religion that helps the followers to retain simplicity and the satisfaction of a happy life. they should not make the mistake of using this gift of religion that they possess, to interpret their enemy/rival/oppressor as evil or anything similar.

if the taliban want to remove the western coalition from their country, they must fight with all means available, and with honour. they are consigned to their present status of fighting, because they viewed the indian state and people as unislamic, in proceeding to help the hijackers. if they had handed over the hijackers to the indian state, they would have helped the hijacker to get their due punishment according to our law. but, the taliban probably thought that only their law is valid, and all other laws and all other people are invalid. what this tells us is that to possess islam confers great responsibility on the possessor to realise the significance of this gift from god. it should not be reduced in its value by using it to justify political negotiations and co-habitation with others who live following other ways of life.

Shagufta said...

Samurai, I didn't quite get how you related my article on Oppression with Taliban. I do not support the Taliban.

I respect your views, but many questions you have about Islam and its philosophy, you put all together on my blog. Maybe you do not have many or any Muslims around you to share your views.

Also, my posts on Islam are very much for Muslims too, as sadly many Muslims do not know the Quran with its true meanings. Some blindly believe some leaders because they have no time to read and reflect themselves. Hence a lot of negativity gets around. And hate flows from both sides. My attempts are to reduce them.

Also, if you're referring to movements in Islamic countries, it is more political. Only people see it more critically because they happen to be Muslim nations. Any revolution in US or a Sri Lanka or some other non-Muslim country would have been viewed normally, wot say?

Btw, I find it funny that u view Taliban as the champions of Muslims across the world!

samurai said...

shagufta, i did not relate your article with the taliban. I related the wisdom that is present in the quran which is simple and understandable by everyone, to the present situation where islam seems to have been hurt by what the taliban had done when they were in power. i felt on reading ur article that islam is an uncomplicated and modern religion. I thought the bad reputation that Islam has come with mixing political fights with the religion of the fighters. i was referring to the situation in afghanistan and palestine.

Shagufta said...

Samurai, understand ur viewpoints and respect them. Sometimes people can be so unreasonable that it becomes difficult to make even a fellow Muslim realise many things. Many people know their religion in overview. Thats where the problem lies. But it would be great if people try to fully understand what they are following. Its like becoming a Doctor without studying medicine!
Islam teaches tolerance towards people who follow other faith, has many rules/ laws for racial, man-woman equality and lots of modern doctrines. But still people forget the basic things of religion and delve more on minor issues like Valentine day, New year, music, n lot more... Islam also states through Hadeeths that men should help in household chores. N our Prophet PBUH proved it through his actions. But Muslims rarely going on a forwarding spree on such Hadeeths... Quran states that one should save themselves from the Bigger Sins, and God will save us from our smaller sins. But we are penny-wise and pound foolish. We save ourselves from the minor sins and commit bigger sins. May Allah forgive us all and show us the Right Path.