Muslims avoid harming people with their words and deeds
By Abu Amina Elias for FaithinAllah.org
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
An important principle in Islam and a foundational legal maxim in Islamic law was stated by As-Suyuti as follows:
الضَّرَر يُزَالHarm should be removed.Source: Al-Ashbah wa Natha’ir 7
As a general rule, Muslims should not harm other people, especially other Muslims. The only exception to this rule is due to the need for self-defense against aggression or to avert some greater evil, as stated in the following subsidiary legal maxim:
الضَّرَرُ الْأَشَدُّ يُزَالُ بِالضَّرَرِ الْأَخَفِّGreater harm can be removed by lesser harm.Source: Sharh Majallat Al-Ahkam 40
The Prophet decreed this rule as a matter of law and ethics.
Ubaida ibn As-Samit reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, issued a decree:
لاَ ضَرَرَ وَلاَ ضِرَارَDo not cause harm or return harm.Source: Sunan ibn Majah 2340, Grade: Hasan
The Prophet defined the true Muslim as one who avoids harming other Muslims with his tongue (words) and hand (actions).
Abdullah bin Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِThe Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.Source: Sahih Bukhari 10, Grade: Sahih
We should be particularly careful to protect those within our own community, but the principle is not restricted only to Muslims. Rather, it applies to all humanity and even the animals.
In another version of this tradition, the Prophet said:
الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ النَّاسُ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُ مَنْ أَمِنَهُ النَّاسُ عَلَى دِمَائِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْThe Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe, and the believer is the one who is trusted with the lives and wealth of the people.Source: Sunan An-Nasa’i 4998, Grade: Sahih
Indeed, a true Muslim must not harm his neighbors at all, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims, lest he be forbidden from entering Paradise.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلَا يُؤْذِي جَارَهُWhoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him not harm his neighbor.Source: Sahih Bukhari 6110, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ لَا يَأْمَنُ جَارُهُ بَوَائِقَهُHe will not enter Paradise whose neighbor is not secure from his evil.Source: Sahih Muslim 46, Grade: Sahih
We all understand how harmful evil actions can be, but many of us do not realize that simple words can be just as harmful. A person might speak an evil word for which he will be punished in Hellfire.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ يَنْزِلُ بِهَا فِي النَّارِ أَبْعَدَ مَا بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِVerily, the servant may speak a single word for which he plummets into the Hellfire farther than the distance between East and West.Source: Sahih Bukhari 6112, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
In another narration, the Prophet said:
وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَزِلُّ عَلَى لِسَانِهِ أَشَدَّ مَا يَزِلُّ عَلَى قَدَمَيْهِVerily, a man stumbles due to his tongue more than he stumbles with his two feet.Source: Shu’b Al-Iman 4484, Grade: Hasan
In contrast, protecting people from harm is a virtuous deed in Islam, such that it can be a means of great reward in the Hereafter. Even a simple act such as removing thorns from the road is a good deed that leads to Paradise.
Abu Barza reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, teach me something that will benefit me.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
اعْزِلْ الْأَذَى عَنْ طَرِيقِ الْمُسْلِمِينَRemove harmful things from the roads of the Muslims.Source: Sahih Muslim 2618, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَجُلاً يَتَقَلَّبُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فِي شَجَرَةٍ قَطَعَهَا مِنْ ظَهْرِ الطَّرِيقِ كَانَتْ تُؤْذِي النَّاسَVerily, I saw a man enjoying himself in Paradise because he cut down a tree in the road that used to harm people.Source: Sahih Muslim 1914, Grade: Sahih
In fact, Allah will treat us in the same way that we treated other people. If we harmed others with our hurtful words and evil deeds, then Allah will similarly punish us on the Day of Resurrection.
Abu Sirmah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ ضَارَّ ضَارَّ اللَّهُ بِهِ وَمَنْ شَاقَّ شَاقَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِWhoever harms others, then Allah will harm him. Whoever is harsh with others, then Allah will be harsh with him.Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 1940, Grade: Hasan
Thus, the true believers must always treat others the way they would love to be treated, for they will be treated in this manner in the Hereafter.
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُزَحْزَحَ عَنْ النَّارِ وَيَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَلْتُدْرِكْهُ مَنِيَّتُهُ وَهُوَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَيَأْتِي إِلَى النَّاسِ مَا يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُؤْتَى إِلَيْهِWhoever would love to be saved from Hellfire and entered into Paradise, then let him die with faith in Allah and the Last Day and let him treat people the way he would love to be treated.Source: Sahih Muslim 1844, Grade: Sahih
We ask Allah to protect us from being harmed or harming others.
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
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