There was a man who was hated by everyone because none was ever spared from his harm. If he spared a person from his hand, he would not spare him from his tongue. If he forgot to speak ill of a person in his presence, then he would not forget to speak ill of him in his absence. The man was certainly disliked by all and was too much for anyone to bear.
If you think about society, you will realize that for certain, that usually only those who are more blessed than others are the ones who abuse others. It is the strong that abuse the weak by pushing them or kicking them away, beating them or belittling them. The rich person transgresses against the poor, disgrace them in public gatherings and interrupts them as they speak. People in higher positions are guiltier of such crimes, and the same is witnessed with most people that are fortunate to have been blessed with good fortune.
Not only are such people loathed, but whenever a calamity befalls them, people rejoice and wish that they lose all the respect that others have for them. Indeed people wish that they would become totally bankrupt.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) one day asked his companions, “Do you know who the bankrupt one is?”
They replied, “A bankrupt person, as we know it, is the one who neither has money or any possessions.”
He said, “Rather, the bankrupt person is the one who comes on the Day of Resurrection with prayers, fasts and charity. Yet, it is discovered that he cursed this person, accused that person, illegally possessed this person’s property, murdered that person and hit this person. All those he oppressed will be given from his good deeds. If his good deeds are gone before the account is settled, their bad deeds will be taken and placed into his account, and then he will be thrown into the fire.” (Reported by Muslim)
For this reason, the Prophet (SAW) would avoid harming anybody. A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) never struck anything with his hand: neither a woman nor a servant, except during battle. He never sought revenge from the one who inflicted harm upon him, unless one of Allah’s sanctities was violated. Only then would he seek revenge for Allah.” (Reported by Muslim)
Generally speaking, whoever uses the blessings Allah has given him to cause harm to others is disliked. Allah may even afflict such a person before punishing him in the hereafter, thereby soothing and healing the wounds of those he harmed.
Another thing to take into consideration is the dynamic nature of life. You could be in a position of influence and power today, you oppress and harm others. Tomorrow you could lose that position and it could be the person(s) whom you oppressed that may be in your previous position. Note that not everyone has a forgiving nature and most people would be tempted into taking revenge for the harm and oppression you caused them.
Life is too short to gain enemies unnecessarily. Be kind to people and do not harm them if you want to have any hope of salvation in the herafter.
(Portions of this article were extracted from the book “Enjoy Your Life” by Dr. Abd Al-Rahman Al-‘Arifi).
BARKA Da SALLAH to all my Muslim readers.
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