We live in this world with all type of people around: honest and humble, hypocrites and the cruel and oppressor. While one can feel a radiance of humility from the honest, we feel a strange strong smell of arrogance and heartlessness from the oppressors. Ever wondered why?
In stead of I answering the question, let me quote a verse from Al Qur'an which would tell you why. This is the 57th verse of Surah Aal-E-Imran, the 3rd chapter / Surah of Al Qur'an shared herein under:
The Verse
“As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, He will give them their full rewards. And Allah does not love the wrongdoers (ẓālimīn).”
Note: This verse is also part of our reference post Warning Shots of severe consequences for the Oppressors and dispensers of injustice mentioned in Al Qur'an. Refer to this page to know the other verses on the subjects.
What the Verse is Saying
This verse makes a clear moral divide:
- Believers with righteous deeds will be fully rewarded
- Wrongdoers (ẓālimīn) will be deprived of Allah’s love
That is the greatest loss is not punishment alone for the wrongdoers, it is being cut off from Allah’s love. And when the heart is devoid of love of Allah, one becomes stubborn, cruel and heartless. Such people who love to torture and oppress others for in their hearts love of Allah does not reside, therefore flowing tears from the eyes of the oppressed do not move them.
Who Are the “Ẓālimīn” (Wrongdoers)?
In the Qur’anic sense, they include those:
- Who reject truth knowingly
- Who oppress others
- Who act with arrogance and فساد (corruption)
- Who persist in wrongdoing without repentance
Examples from the Past who did not allow love of Allah reside in their hearts and faced Divine Consequences
Such people who are robbed of humility are often mentioned in Al Qur'an repeatedly. Some are mentioned below:
- Pharaoh (Fir‘awn)
- Pharaoh is notorious for Enslavement of Bani Israeel بني إسرائيل and killing of innocent children for he proclaimed himself as a god as a symbol of his extreme arrogance: “I am your lord most high.”
- For this brutal behaviour of his, he was drowned in the sea along with his army of which he was proud of and from which it wielded his power and arrogance.
- The mention of Pharaoh which exhibits tyranny and arrogance lad to humiliation and destruction
- Nation of Nūḥ (Noah)
- For over 900 years Prophet Nūḥ persuaded his people to obey Allah and leave their stubbornness. But they mocked truth and persistently denied existence of God.
- Therefore they were drowned in the great flood and only those survived who listened to him and accepted the existence of God. It was unfortunate that son of Nūḥ did not listen to his father and was too perished in the flood.
- Nations of ʿĀd and Thamūd Both these nations prided in their strength and rejecting clear signs of God. They were thus destroyed by violent winds and ear tearing blast.
- People of Lūṭ (Lot) and Shuʿayb Defied Divine commandments, exhibit moral corruption and economic justice. Thus their people were destroyed
A Deeper Understanding of Devoid of love of Allah and “Divine Wrath”
When people become heartless and commandments of Allah do not find a way into their hearts, Allah too devoid them of humility, add more to their arrogance and false pride which finally invites Divine wrath for them and they are destroyed.
It is not only complete destructing of such people always. Sometimes they are robbed of Barakah (blessings) or inner emptiness of their hearts, which gradually results into their downfall. From high positions of power of strength, they fall to the earth duly exposed of their hollowness and utterly humiliated.
The Most Important Application
Let us not only look back for this verse is not just about “them”—it is about us. We need to ask ourselves:
- Do I oppress others—even in small ways?
- Do I justify my wrong actions?
- Do I ignore truth when it challenges me?
- Do I find hollowness in my heart or absence of even iota of goodness?
- Do I feel happy seeing people in misery and under burden of oppression?
If the answer is yes, we need to repent immediately and let love of Allah enter into our hearts to make us humble and caring. For if we continue with our oppressive actions and wrongdoings, let us be ready for the Divine wrath which may befall unannounced.
Remember: The line between “believer” and “ẓālim” is drawn by actions and sincerity
A Powerful Reflection
The verse ends with: “Allah does not love the wrongdoers”
Think about that a person my be powerful, successful and admired. Yet if he is oppressive, he is living without divine love - and that is the greatest loss.
So let us not focus only on who was punished… Focus on what made them deserving of punishment—
so we too never fall into the same category of wrongdoers and oppressors.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may refer to more Selected Verses from Surah 3. Al-i'Imran (The Family of Imran) already published
You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages:
- Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
- Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
- Selected Verses from the Qur'an.
You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
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