Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Injustice And Oppression

Injustice and Oppression-الظّلم والبغي

1. In times of injustice, remember the justice of Allah with you and when you are powerful, [recall] the power of Allah over you.

1ـ أُذْكُرْ عِنْدَ الظُّلْمِ عَدْلَ اللّهِ فيكَ، وعِنْدَ القُدْرَةِ

2. Beware of oppression, for verily it brings [divine] retribution, dispels blessings and causes changes in circumstances.

2ـ اِتَّقُوا البَغْيَ فَإنَّهُ يَجْلِبُ النِّقَمَ،وَ يَسْلُبُ

3. Distance yourselves from injustice, for indeed it is the greatest of wrongdoings and the biggest of sins.

3ـ أُبْعُدُوا عَنِ الظُّلْمِ، فَإنَّهُ أعْظَمُ الجَرائِمِ، وأكْبَرُ

4. Keep away from injustice for whoever acts unjustly, his days are abhorred.

4ـ إيّاكَ والظُّلْمَ، فَمَنْ ظَلَمَ كَرُهَتْ أيّامُهُ.

5. Keep away from injustice, for indeed it will depart from the one whom you oppress and will remain upon you.

5ـ إيّاكَ والظُّلْمَ، فَإنَّهُ يَزُولُ عَمَّنْ تَظْلِمُهُ، ويَبْقى

6. Keep away from oppression, for verily it hastens one’s downfall and causes tears [of regret and sorrow] to flow from the one who acts upon it.[^1]

6ـ إيّاكَ والبَغْيَ، فَإنَّهُ يُعَجِّلُ الصَّرْعَةَ، ويُحِلُّ

7. Keep away from injustice, for it is the biggest sin; and verily the unjust will surely be chastised on the Day of Resurrection because of his injustice.

7ـ إيّاكَ والظُّلْمَ، فَإنَّهُ أكْبَرُ المعَاصي، وإنَّ الظّالِمَ

8. Keep away from oppression, for verily Allah hastens chastisement for the oppressor and sends down exemplary punishments upon him.

8ـ إيّاكَ والبَغْيَ، فَإنَّ الباغِيَ يُعَجِّلُ اللّهُ لَهُ

9. Avoid the downfalls of transgression, the disgraces of deceit and the arousal of the latent, reprehensible evil.

9ـ إيّاكُمْ وصَـرَعاتِ البَغْيِ، وفَضَحاتِ الغَدْرِ، وإثارَةَ كامِنِ

10. Know that injustice is of three kinds: the injustice that is not forgiven, the injustice that is not left [unquestioned], and the injustice that is forgiven without being questioned. As for the injustice that is not forgiven, it is the ascribing of partners to Allah as He, the Most High, says: ‘Verily Allah does not forgive that any partner should be ascribed to Him, but He forgives anything besides that to whomever He wishes’. As for the injustice that is forgiven, it is the injustice of a person to himself in committing some small sins. And as for the injustice that is not left unquestioned, it is the injustice of the people on one another. In this case the punishment is severe, not [simply] wounding with knives or striking with whips, rather it is a punishment in comparison to which all this seems small.

10ـ ألا وإنَّ الظُّلْمَ ثَلاثَةٌ: فَظُلْمٌ لايُغْفَرُ، وظُلْمٌ

11. The most loathsome of traits is aggression.

11ـ أقْبَحُ الشِّيَمِ العُدْوانُ.

12. The quickest thing is the downfall of an oppressor.

12ـ أعْجَلُ شَيْء صَرْعَةً اَلبَغْيُ.

13. The vilest oppression is [that which is practiced] when one has power.

13ـ اَلأَمُ البَغْيِ عِنْدَ القُدْرَةِ.

14. The vilest transgression is transgression against the intimate [friends].

14ـ أفْحَشُ البَغْيِ اَلبَغْيُ عَلَى الألاّفِ.

15. The most loathsome injustice is your withholding the rights of Allah.

15ـ أقْبَحُ الظُّلْمِ مَنْعُكَ حُقُوقَ اللّهِ.

16. The most tyrannical person is he who oppresses the one who is fair to him.

16ـ أجْوَرُ النّاسِ مَنْ ظَلَمَ مَنْ أنْصَفَهُ.

17. The actions that are most effective in bringing chastisement are oppression and ingratitude for blessings.

17ـ أبْلَغُ ما تُسْتَجْلَبُ بِهِ النِّقْمَةُ اَلبَغْيُ، وكُفْرُ

18. Verily the evil that brings the quickest retribution is injustice.

18ـ إنَّ أسْـرَعَ الشَّـرِّ عِقاباً الظُّلْمُ.

19. Indeed the ugliness in injustice is equivalent to the beauty in justice.

19ـ إنَّ القُبْحَ فِي الظُّلْمِ بِقَدْرِ الحُسْنِ فِي العَدْلِ.

20. Injustice is [the cause of divine] punishment.

20ـ اَلظُّلْمُ عِقابٌ.

21. Oppression takes away blessing.

21ـ اَلبَغْيُ يَسْلُبُ النِّعْمَةَ.

22. Injustice brings [divine wrath and] chastisement.

22ـ اَلظُّلْمُ يَجْلِبُ النِّقْمَةَ.

23. Injustice has adverse consequences.

23ـ اَلظُّلْمُ وَخيمُ العاقِبَةِ.

24. Oppression puts an end to blessings.

24ـ اَلبَغْيُ يُزيلُ النِّعَمَ.

25. Injustice drives away blessings.

25ـ اَلظُّلْمُ يَطْرُدُ النِّعَمَ.

26. Oppression brings [divine wrath and] chastisements.

26ـ اَلبَغْيُ يَجْلُبُ النِّقَمَ.

27. Injustice causes one to enter hellfire.

27ـ اَلظُّلْمُ يُوجِبُ النّارَ.

28. Oppression leads to destruction.

28ـ اَلبَغْيُ يُوجِبُ الدِّمارَ.

29. Injustice is the most wicked vice.

29ـ اَلظُّلْمُ اَلأَمُ الرَّذائِلِ.

30. Injustice is the ruination of the populace.

30ـ اَلظُّلْمُ بَوارُ الرَّعِيَّةِ.

31. Power is expunged by aggression.

31ـ اَلقُدْرَةُ يُزيلُهَا العُدْوانُ.

32. Injustice has a series of destructive consequences.

32ـ اَلظُّلْمُ تَبِعاتٌ مُوبِقاتٌ.

33. Oppression is the quickest thing to be punished.

33ـ اَلبَغْيُ أعْجَلُ شَيْء عُقُوبَةً.

34. Injustice destroys homes.

34ـ اَلظُّلْمُ يُدَمِّرُ الدِّيارَ.

35. Injustice destroys the one who practices it.

35ـ اَلظُّلْمُ يُرْدي صاحِبَهُ.

36. Oppression drives [one] towards utter destruction.

36ـ اَلْبَغْيُ سائِقٌ إلَى الحَيْنِ.

37. Injustice is a crime that cannot be forgotten.

37ـ اَلظُّلمُ جُرْمٌ لايُنْسى.

38. Oppression causes the downfall of men and brings [their] deaths closer.

38ـ اَلبَغْيُ يَصْرَعُ الرِّجالَ، ويُدْنِي الآجالَ.

39. When power prompts you to be unjust to people, then remember the power of Allah, the Glorified, to punish you; and [recall the fact] that what you have brought upon them will depart from them while it will remain with you.

39ـ إذا حَدَتْكَ القُدْرَةُ عَلى ظُلْمِ النّاسِ فَاذْكُرْ قُدْرَةَ

40. By injustice, blessings are removed.

40ـ بالظُّلْمِ تَزُولُ النِّعَمُ.

41. By oppression, chastisement is brought down.

41ـ بِالبَغْيِ تُجْلَبُ النِّقَمُ.

42. How bad an injustice is the injustice to one who is submissive!

42ـ بِئْسَ الظُّلْمُ ظُلْمُ المُسْتَسْلِمِ.

43. How evil a provision for the Hereafter is oppressiveness to the servants [of Allah]!

43ـ بِئْسَ الزّادُ إلَى المَعادِ العُدْوانُ عَلَى العِبادِ.

44. Continued injustice takes away blessings and brings forth chastisement.

44ـ دَوامُ الظُّلْمِ يَسْلُبُ النِّعَمَ ويَجْلُبُ النِّقَمَ.

45. Remedy injustice with justice and cure poverty with alms and charity.

45ـ داوُوا الجَوْرَ بِالعَدْلِ، وداوُوا الفَقْرَ بِالصَّدَقَةِ

46. The cornerstone of ignorance is oppression.

46ـ رَأْسُ الجَهْلِ الجَوْرُ.

47. One who embarks of injustice is met with ruin.

47ـ راكِبُ الظُّلْمِ يُدْرِكُهُ البَوارُ.

48. Whoever rides the mount of injustice, his mount will stumble with him.

48ـ راكِبُ الظُّلْمِ يَكْبُوبِهِ مَرْكَبُهُ.

49. The most evil characteristic of the souls is oppression.

49ـ شَـرُّ أخْلاقِ النُّفُوسِ الجَوْرُ.

50. Two things are such that one cannot be safe from their [evil] consequences: injustice and evil (or gluttony).

50ـ شَيْئانِ لا تُسْلَمُ عاقِبَتُهُما: الظُّلْمُ، والشَّـرُّ

51. Counter oppression with justice.

51ـ ضادُّوا الجَوْرَ بِالعَدْلِ.

52. Submission to tyranny causes destruction and annihilates the kingdom.

52ـ طاعَةُ الجَوْرِ تُوجِبُ الهُلْكَ، وتَأتي عَلَى المُلْكِ.

53. Being unjust to the weak is the most grievous injustice.

53ـ ظُلْمُ الضَّعيفِ أفْحَشُ الظُّلْمِ.

54. Injustice to the one who has surrendered is the greatest crime.

54ـ ظُلْمُ المُسْتَسْلِمِ أعْظَمُ الجُرْمِ.

55. Being unjust to the people corrupts one’s Hereafter.

55ـ ظُلْمُ العِبادِ يُفْسِدُ المَعادَ.

56. One who oppresses the people has manifested his obdurate opposition to Allah, the Glorified.

56ـ ظاهَرَ اللّهَ سُبْحانَهُ بِالْعِنادِ مَنْ ظَلَمَ العِبادَ.

57. The injustice of a man in this world is the symbol of his wretchedness in the Hereafter.

57ـ ظُلْمُ المَرْءِ فِي الدُّنْيا عُنْوانُ شَقائِهِ فِي الآخِرَةِ.

58. Injustice to orphans and widows brings down divine wrath and takes away the blessings from those who possess them.

58ـ ظُلْمُ اليَتامى والأيامى يُنْزِلُ النِّقَمَ ويَسْلُبُ النِّعَمَ

59. In tyranny there is transgression.

59ـ فِي الجَوْرِ الطُّغْيانُ.

60. The destruction of the populace is in tyranny.

60ـ فِي الجَوْرِ هَلاكُ الرَّعِيَّةِ.

61. How many a blessing has been removed by injustice!

61ـ كَمْ مِنْ نِعْمَة سَلَبَها ظُلْمٌ.

62. Injustice is enough of a dispeller of blessing and an invoker of chastisement.

62ـ كَفى بِالظُّلْمِ طارِداً لِلنِّعْمَةِ، وجالِباً لِلنِّقْمَةِ.

63. Oppression is sufficient for the removal of blessing.

63ـ كَفى بِالبَغْيِ سالِباً لِلنِّعْمَةِ.

64. There is nothing that is more summoning of the removal of blessing and the hastening of chastisement than remaining steadfast upon injustice.

64ـ لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أدْعى إلى زَوالِ نِعْمَة، وتَعْجِيلِ نِقْمَة مِنْ

65. One who is praised for injustice is being plotted against [and deceived].

65ـ مَنْ حُمِدَ عَلَى الظُّلْمِ مُكِرَ بِهِ.

66. One whose injustice is excessive, his regret is abundant.

66ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ ظُلْمُهُ كَثُرَتْ نَدامَتُهُ.

67. Whoever unsheathes the sword of oppression [on the people], his head becomes its sheath.

67ـ مَنْ سَلَّ سَيْفَ البَغْيِ غُمِدَ فِي رَأْسِهِ.

68. One of the most grievous injustices is the injustice of [or against] the honourable ones.

68ـ مِنْ أفْحَشِ الظُّلْمِ ظُلْمُ الكِرامِ.

69. Do not make the nobles desirous of your cruelty [in their favour over those who oppose them].

69ـ لاتُطْمِعِ العُظَماءَ في حَيْفِكَ.

70. Do not stretch out your hand against one who is unable to stave it off from himself.

70ـ لاتَبْسُطَنَّ يَدَكَ على مَنْ لايَقْدِرُ عَلى دَفْعِها عَنْهُ.

71. Never oppress one who has no helper except Allah.

71ـ لاتَظْلِمَنَّ مَنْ لايَجِدُ ناصِراً إلاّ اللّهَ.

72. Consider not the injustice of the one who is unjust to you as grave, for indeed his striving only harms himself and benefits you; and it is not the reward of one who pleases you that you should offend him.

72ـ لايَكْبـُرَنَّ عَلَيْكَ ظُلْمُ مَنْ ظَلَمَكَ فَإنَّهُ يَسْعى في

73. There is no evil like injustice.

73ـ لاسَوْأَةَ كَالظُّلْمِ.

74. There is no victory with oppression.

74ـ لاظَفَرَ مَعَ بَغْي.

75. He who does not refrain from oppressing people does not believe in the Hereafter.

75ـ لايُؤْمِنُ بِالمَعادِ مَنْ لايَتَحَرَّجُ عَنْ ظُلْمِ العِبادِ.

76. One from whose oppression people are not safe is not safe from the punishment of Allah.

76ـ لايُؤْمِنُ اللّهُ عَذابَهُ مَنْ لايَأمَنُ النّاسُ جَوْرَهُ.

77. A man may sleep after the loss of a child but he will not sleep under [the yoke of] oppression.

77ـ يَنامُ الرَّجُلِ عَلَى الثُّكْلِ، وَلايَنامُ علَى الظُّلْمِ.

78. Tyranny is one of the two destroyers.

78ـ اَلجَوْرُ أحَدُ المُدَمِّرَينْ.

79. Injustice makes the foot slip, takes away blessings and destroys nations.

79ـ اَلظُّلْمُ يُزِلُّ القَدَمَ ويَسْلُبُ النِّعَمَ ويُهْلِكُ

80. Injustice in this world is ruination and in the Hereafter, [it is] destruction.

80ـ اَلظُّلْمُ فِي الدُّنيا بَوارٌ وفِي الآخِرَةِ دَمارٌ.

81. Keep away from tyranny, for indeed the tyrant will not [even] smell the fragrance of Paradise.

81 ـ إيّاكَ والجَوْرَ، فَإنَّ الجائِرَ لايَريحُ رائِحَةَ الجَنَّةِ.

82. Tyranny brings negative consequences.

82 ـ اَلجَوْرُ تَبِعاتٌ.

83. Tyranny is the antithesis of justice.

83 ـ اَلجَوْرُ مُضادُّ العَدْلِ.

84. One whose violations increase, his exasperation [also] increases.

84 ـ مَنْ كَثُرَ شَطَطُهُ كَثُرَ سَخَطُهُ.

85. Oppression is an eraser [of good deeds].

85 ـ اَلجَوْرُ مِمْحاةٌ.

86. Oppression brings the quickest punishment.

86 ـ اَلْبَغْيُ أَعْجَلُ عُقُوبَةً.

[^1]: Or: ...it makes the [downfall of] one who acts upon it an example for others.