Dhulm: its meaning and its types

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ibn Faaris defines ظلم (Dhulm) as:

“ظُلْم [Dhulm] has two root meaning, one of (which is darkness) which is the opposite of light and radiance; and the other is: putting a thing in other than its own place.”

--end of quote

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

اِتَّقُوا اَلظُّلْمَ, فَإِنَّ اَلظُّلْمَ ظُلُمَاتٌ يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ

“Beware of oppression, for oppression will be excessive darkness on the Day of Judgment.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (2447) and Saheeh Muslim (6248, 6249) and the wordings are his]

Lane's Lexicon defines ظلم (Dhulm) thusly:

“ظَلَمَ [Dhalama] when intransitive usually means: he did wrong; or acted wrongfully, unjustly, injuriously, or tyrannically: and when transitive: he wronged; or treated, or used, wrongfully, unjustly, injuriously, or tyrannically...

الظُلم [adh-Dhulm] signifies the putting a thing in a place not its own; putting it in a wrong place; misplacing it;... and it is by exceeding or falling short, or by deviating from the proper time and place: or the acting in whatsoever way one pleases in the disposal of the property of another: and the transgressing the proper limit;... or,

According to some, it primarily signifies النَّقص [an-naqs] (meaning: making to suffer loss or detriment).”

--end of quote

The types of Dhulm:

With regards to the types of Dhulm, Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

1. The most oppressive (form) of Dhulm, and it is Shirk with regards to Allaah.

2. The Dhulm done by a person against his own self, so that he does not give it its rights. For example: he fasts and does not break the fast; he stays awake and does not sleep (properly).

3. The Dhulm done by a person against someone else. For example: he transgresses against a person by hitting (him) or killing (him) or by taking away (his) wealth and whatever resembles that.

[al-Qawl al-Mufeed `alaa Kitaab al-Tawheed]

Question: What if the Dhulm is no longer found and there is security, but will this be a complete security?

Answer: If the Imaan is complete and it is not mixed with disobedience (to Allaah and His Messenger), then there will be absolute security. But if the Imaan is not complete, then the security will likewise be inadequate.

Example of this: A person who does a major sin (like gambling, fornication): He will be secured from permanently being in the Hellfire, but he will not be secured from the punishment. Rather, he will be under the Will of Allaah, as Allaah تعالى said:

﴿إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ﴾

{Verily, Allaah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases} [Surah al-Nisaa’ (4): 48, 116]

But as for the one whom Allaah تعالى blesses to have pure Tawheed then he will have perfect security. He will be secured from permanently being in the Hellfire, but he will also be secured from the punishment; this is because of his utmost Imaan.

[al-Qawl al-Mufeed `alaa Kitaab al-Tawheed of Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-`Uthaymeen]