Abstain From Zulm

Main Topic

The speaker emphasizes the critical obligation to avoid all forms of zulm (oppression or injustice)—against Allah, oneself, and fellow creations—while highlighting the value of life, good health, and time before death.

Key Lessons

• Types of Zulm: The worst form of zulm is shirk (associating partners with Allah), followed by committing sins while claiming servitude to Allah, and oppressing other human beings or animals.
• True Piety: True piety lies in giving up sins and fulfilling obligatory (fard) duties, rather than engaging in abundant voluntary (nafl) acts while continuing to indulge in sin.
• Rights of Creation: Oppressing employees (paying unfair wages), abusing spouses, or mistreating animals carries severe consequences. The supplication (dua) of an oppressed person (mazloom) reaches Allah directly without any barrier.
• Value of Time and Health: Good health and free time are two great bounties that people often take for granted. Every moment should be used to gain the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala.
• Clarity on Ruqyah and Spiritual Practices: Proper Shariah boundaries must be maintained in spiritual treatments (ruqyah), ensuring rules of hijab are respected and blanket accusations of shirk against traditional methods are avoided.

Quranic/Hadith References

• Surah Al-Baqarah (2:257): Allah is the protector of those who believe, bringing them out of darkness into light.
• Hadith Qudsi (Abu Dharr RA): Allah Ta'ala states, "I have forbidden oppression for Myself and declared it forbidden among you, so do not oppress one another."
• Hadith: "Fear the prayer of the oppressed, for verily between it and Allah there is no barrier."
• Hadith: Two blessings many people lose out on: good health and free time.
• Hadith: Narrative of a woman punished in the Fire for oppressing a cat, and a woman forgiven for watering a thirsty dog.

Practical Advice

• Focus primary spiritual energy on abstaining from sins rather than merely seeking extra voluntary recitations (wazifas).
• Ensure fair treatment and adequate remuneration for workers and domestic help.