Dear brothers and sisters: Injustice in Islam is forbidden because it is a form of destructive behaviour. Allah says in a Qudsi Hadith

Sh. Khalifa Ezzat

Dhul-Qa‘dah 11, 1430- Oct. 30/2009
Dear brothers and sisters: Injustice in Islam is forbidden because it is a form of destructive behaviour. Allah says in a Qudsi Hadith, “O My servant, I have forbidden injustice for Myself and forbade it also for you.  So avoid being unjust to one another.” [Muslim]
This is a general statement, addressed to all mankind, whether they are Muslim or not, it is not permissible for any person to oppress another even if they are enemies or hate one another. Enmity and hatred is not an excuse to be unjust or practice oppression.”
A Muslim should be just in all cases even if this justice will be against themselves, their parents, or kin. The Qur’an says, ‘O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be [against] rich or poor…’ [An-Nisaa’: 135]

The sole purpose of sending the Prophets was to establish justice in the world and to end injustice. The Qur’an says: ‘We sent aforetime our messengers with clear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance, that men may stand forth in Justice.’ [57:25]

1. 
   Injustice towards Allah: this type of injustice is to associate partners with Him [shirk]. The Qur’an says, ‘Surely, Shirk is a major injustice.’ [Luqman:13]
   
2. 
   Injustice to One's Self: this type occurs by doing wrong to one’s own soul by committing sins and disobeying Allah’s commands. This is injustice to the self. The Qur’an says, ‘Do not wrong yourself…’ [at-Tawbah 9]
   
3. 
   Injustice to Others: Injustice to others is of many types and forms. Let us consider some of these:
   

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  The first form of injustice to others is to cause harm or injury by attacking them physically or financially by taking their property, to defame their honour and reputation by slander. In his last khutbah, the Prophet said, ‘Your property, honour, and life are inviolable to one another.’
  

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  The second form of inequality among people is through the duties of the courts. Making judgements based on race, language or colour is a form of injustice. The Prophet said, ‘The people before you were destroyed because they used to inflict legal punishments on the poor but forgive the rich. By Him in Whose Hand my soul is! If Fatima (the daughter of the Prophet ) did that (i.e. stole), I would cut off her hand.’ [al-Bukhari]
  

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  The wrong-doer should not think that Allah neglects them or forgets them, but He gives them time and a chance to repent and do good. The Qur’an says, ‘If Allah were to punish men for their wrong-doing, He would not leave, on the (earth), a single living creature: but He gives them respite for a stated Term: When their Term expires, they would not be able to delay (the punishment) for a single hour, just as they would not be able to anticipate it (for a single hour).’ [16:61]
  

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  The other form of injustice is caused by the rulers toward their subjects. This type of injustice can be avoided by fairness to all people, regardless of their colour, race or nationality.
  

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  Another form of injustice is that of children towards their parents, by being undutiful to them, for this is one of the gravest sins, as the Prophet [pbuh] informed us.
  

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  By contrast, injustice of parents towards their children also exists; this happens when parents treat their children differently. The Prophet said, ‘Fear Allah by being just to your children.’ So, a Muslim should not differentiate between his sons or daughters in treatment. Parents’ oppression against their children begins when they fail to teach them the rules and principles of their religion.
  

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  Among the forms of injustice is injustice between husbands and wives. Islam urges the husband to live kindly with his wife, to be a fair guardian, not to hit her or insult her or defame her reputation. The Prophet said, ‘Fear Allah regarding women, as indeed you have married them with the trust of Allah and He has made permissible for yourselves their bodies with the word of Allah.” [Muslim]
  

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  Among the forms injustice to others is to backbite or gossip about them, slander them, defame them, belittle, mock or laugh at them. All these are forbidden by the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
  

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  Another form of injustice is to neglect the rights of employees by depriving them of their wages or delaying them or exploiting their conditions by forcing them to do hard work for a long time. The Prophet [pbuh] said, ‘Give the employee his fees as soon as he finishes his job.’ [Ibn Majah]. The story of the three persons who were in a cave when a big rock fell and closed the entrance of the cave is a proof of the consequences of giving workers their fees and not being unjust towards them. The full story is narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim
  

The Qur’an mentions many stories about those who were unjust, whether they were the ruler or ruled.