Allah does not like wrongdoers (1)

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "If a wound (and killing) has touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has touched the others. And so are the days (good and not so good), We give to men by turns, that Allâh may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you. And Allâh likes not the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers)." [Surat Al `Imran: 140].

The meaning of oppression is placing something in unsuitable position as was mentioned in Al Misbah Al Munir of Al Fayyumy. The saying goes: "Whoever entrusts a wolf has done wrong."[1] And oppression is dispraised by all its types. `Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Oppression will be a darkness on the Day of Resurrection."[2] The statement that Allah (Glory be to Him) does not like oppression in the Gloruois Qur'an came in three positions which included all types of oppression in this life.

These types are:

The first type is oppression in ruling. The meaning of ruling is applying the Shari`ah that regulates peoples' relationship with Alalh (Glory be to Him), the relationship between a ruler and the subject, and among people in general. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed, such are the Kâfirûn (i.e. disbelievers ? of a lesser degree as they do not act on Allâh's Laws)." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 44].

Allah (may He be Exalted) says:  "If a wound (and killing) has touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has touched the others. And so are the days (good and not so good), We give to men by turns, that Allâh may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you. And Allâh likes not the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers)." [Surat Al `Imran: 140]. When time comes and a nation is granted superiority and rules on earth, it has to judge according to the Shari`ah which Allah (Glory be to Him) revealed, otherwise it will be an oppressive nation and it will not continue. It was mentioned in Tafsir Ar-Razy: "Al Qaffal said: The meaning of circulation is to move rulership from a person to another." Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "In order that it may not become a fortune used by the rich among you." [Surat Al Hashr: 7] i.e., to circulate it without assigning a portion of it to the poor.[3]

The address in this Ayah was directed to Muslims during the battle of Uhud when their Lord (Glory be to Him) reminded them that they gained victory over their enemy in the battle of Badr as their enemy was victorious in the battle of Uhud. It is a general address to all Muslims that they must judge according to Allah's Shari`ah with justice, otherwise they will be oppressors and Allah shall not love them, so this empowerment is a test to their faith as the Ayah states.

The second type is oppression in worship: Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And as for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh) and do righteous good deeds, Allâh will pay them their reward in full. And Allâh does not like the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers)." [Surat Al `Imran: 57].

The meaning of "wrong-doers" here is those who did not believe and did not do righteously. So, righteous action is worship, and the meaning of worship is a word that includes everything Allah loves of words and actions such as: Salah, Zakah, Fasting, Hajj, truthfulness, render trusts back, filial obedience, establishing the ties of kinship, keeping promises, enjoining good and forbidding evil, fighting the infidels and hypocrites, kind treatment to neighbors, orphans, the needy, wayfarers, slaves, animals, invocations and recitation, and suchlike. Likewise, loving Allah (Glory be to Him) and His Messenger, fearing Allah, turning to Him in repentance, and devoting religion to Him Only, observing patience to His Ruling, praising Him for His Favors, Satisfying with His Destiny, relying on Him, hoping for His Mercy, fearing of His Punishment and suchlike. The meaning of worship also is the desired goal which pleases Him and for which He created people as Allah (Glory be to Him) said: "And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)." [Surat Az-Zariyat: 56].

And with this message, Allah sent all Messengers.[4]

Worship must be dedicated solely to Allah (Glory be to Him) and in accordance with the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). Thus, the two pillars of worship are sincerity and following the example of the Prophet. As for sincerity, Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allâh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give Zakât, and that is the right religion." [Surat Al Bayyinah: 5].

As for following the Prophet, Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it). And fear Allâh; verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment." [Surat Al Hashr: 7].

So, whoever deviates from both of them has wronged himself and whoever wrongs himself Allah (Glory be to Him) shall not love him.

Oppression in the acts of worship is of some types which the Glorious Qur'an explained as follows:

A- Preventing people from worshipping Allah in masjids and fighting them for that. Verily, those who prevent people from worshipping Allah (Glory be to Him) in masjids lie in the highest stage of oppression. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And who are more unjust than those who forbid that Allâh's Name be glorified and mentioned much (i.e. prayers and invocations, etc.) in Allâh's mosques and strive for their ruin? It was not fitting that such should themselves enter them (Allâh's Mosques) except in fear. For them there is disgrace in this world, and they will have a great torment in the Hereafter." [Surat Al Baqarah: 114].

B- Denying and belying the signs (or Ayahs) of Allah (Glory be to Him), lack of response, and turning away from them. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of his Lord, but turns away from them, forgetting what (deeds) his hands have sent forth? Truly, We have set veils over their hearts lest they should understand this (the Qur'ân), and in their ears, deafness. And if you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) call them to guidance, even then they will never be guided." [Surat Al Kahf: 57].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And who does more aggression and wrong than he who invents a lie against Allâh or rejects His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons or revelations)? Verily, the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers) shall never be successful." [Surat Al An`am: 21].

C- Taking god other than Allah (Glory be to Him). Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And (remember) when Mûsâ (Moses) said to his people: "O my people! Verily, you have wronged yourselves by worshipping the calf. So turn in repentance to your Creator and kill yourselves (the innocent kill the wrongdoers among you), that will be better for you with your Creator." Then He accepted your repentance. Truly, He is the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful." [Surat Al Baqarah: 54].

Disbelief in general is a kind of oppression. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "O you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the Zâlimûn (wrong-doers)." [Surat Al Baqarah: 254].

D- Replacing the words and rites of Allah with which Allah commanded with other rites from peoples' whims. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "But those who did wrong changed the word from that which had been told to them for another, so We sent upon the wrong-doers Rijz (a punishment) from the heaven because of their rebelling against Allâh's obedience." [Surat Al Baqarah: 59].

E- Polytheism is the great oppression which Allah does not forgive, if a person dies as a disbeliever. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And (remember) when Luqman said to his son when he was advising him: O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed." [Surat Luqman: 13].

So, polytheism is a great oppression, therefore Allah (may He be Exalted) says about it: "Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allâh in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin." [Surat An-Nisa': 48].

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[1] Al Misbah Al Munir, Al Muqry Al Fayyumy (1 / 200).

[2] Al Adab Al Mufrad, Imam Al Bukhari (1 / 170), Hadith No. (485).

[3]Tafsir Al Fakhr Ar-Razy, Muhammad ibn `Umar ibn Al Husayn Al Razy (9: 371).

[4] Al Fatawa Al Kubra, Ibn Taymiyah (2 / 361).