Oppression and Intrigue, and the Ultimate Punishment - I

30/09/2012| IslamWeb

The tradition of Allah The Almighty has no scope for favoritism or flattery, as He Says (what means): {You will not find in the way of Allah any change} [Quran 33:62], and, in fact, stresses in another place, {You will never find in the way of Allah any change.} [Quran 35:43] The fair Sharee‘ah neither distinguishes between equals nor renders the unequal as equivalent.

Thus, the inevitable destruction of the evil planner, the one who breaks his word and the unjust person is only a question of time, which, in itself, is a chance for reform. However, that does not reflect a change in principles and what has been established as the tradition of Allah The Almighty.

Muhammad ibn Ka’b Al-Qurathi says, “Three traits beset those who possess them: scheming, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Evil plans shall not beset any save the authors of it} [Quran 35:43]; injustice, as in the verse (which means): {O mankind, your injustice is only against yourselves} [Quran 10:23]; reneging, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {So he who breaks his word only breaks it to the detriment of himself} [Quran 48:10].”

Why these attributes particularly, and others in general, affect their bearer is because consequences are closely related to the causes, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Whoever does a good deed - it is for himself; and whoever does evil - it is against the self.} [Quran 45:15] Similarly, He Says (what means): {[And said], "If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, [you do it] to yourselves."} [Quran 17:7] Moreover, the Prophet said, "Do whatever you want, for you will be rewarded or punished accordingly."

He also narrated that Allah The Almighty Said:"O My servants, indeed, I enumerate and record your deeds for you, then I grant you your reward or punishment in full, correspondingly. Therefore, anyone who finds [in life] delight and good reward, should praise Allah The Almighty [for His enabling him or her to do good]. Likewise, whoever finds otherwise, should blame none but him/herself."

Once, a man went to a scholar and said, "The people of so-and-so have collaborated to harm me, as if they are a single hand." So, he read out the verse (what means): "The hand of Allah is over their hands." [Quran 48:10] The man then complained, "They hatch plots", so the scholar recited (what means): "The evil plot does not encompass except its own people." [Quran 35:43] Then, when he said: "They are so many", the scholar recited the verse (which means):"How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah." [Quran 2:249]

The plots of the disbelievers destroy only them

If you want to be saved from the unbelievers and the immoral people, have faith in their inescapable destruction being caused by their scheming, oppression and betrayal. In fact, they destroy themselves with their own hands before anyone else’s weapons touch them and they alone suffer the outcome of their evil qualities. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And the disbelievers planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners.} [Quran 3:45] He also Says (what means): {And thus We have placed within every city the greatest of its criminals to conspire therein. But they conspire not except against themselves, and they perceive [it] not.} [Quran 6:123]

The Noble Quran tells us of the intrigues of Thamood against their Prophet Saalih, may Allah exalt his mention, where Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And they planned a plan, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then look how was the outcome of their plan - that We destroyed them and their people, all.} [Quran 27:50-51]

Commenting on these verses, some scholars said that the phrase {while they perceived not} implies that the people of Thamood were unaware of the angels that Allah The Almighty ordered to descend to protect Saalih, may Allah exalt his mention, from their assassination attempt. These angels pelted every one of them with stones until they were all killed, and their Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was safe from their conspiracy.

In another version, it is said that the people plotted to kill him, may Allah exalt his mention, so, they pretended to embark on a journey, when, in reality, they hid in a cave, so as to return and murder him at night. However, Allah The Almighty caused a rock to roll down over the mouth of the cave until it became blocked; and this was His scheme against them.

Similarly, the disbelievers hatched plots against Prophet Muhammad as Allah The Almighty Says (what means):{And [remember, [O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.} [Quran 8:30]

Thus, He saved the Prophet who consequently immigrated safely to Madeenah and managed to eliminate the leaders of the disbelievers, such as Abu Jahl, ‘Utbah ibn Rabee‘ah and Shaybah ibn Rabee‘ah. Later, Allah The Almighty spread Islam among their very own after the conquest of Makkah. When the Prophet passed away, Allah The Almighty had granted him victory over them and exalted him in status and reputation.

The hypocrites had also contrived evil plans against the Prophet . Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {But they who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those - it will perish.} [Quran 35:10] Therefore, their schemes were eventually thwarted and their deception was evident to all rational people. In this manner, anyone who conceals anything evil will have it divulged by Allah The Almighty through his or her facial expressions and slips of the tongue; then, he or she will surely be affected suitably.

In addition, the Jews conspired extensively against the Prophet tried to assassinate him and colluded with other disbelievers against him several times. Yet, he managed to kill some of them and evicted others; later, he emerged victorious and his message was propagated to all. As the ultimate response to their attitude, before the end of time, the stones and trees, except the Al-Gharqad (boxthorn), which is their shrub, will betray the Jews hiding behind them by revealing their location to the Muslims pursuing them; and, Allah The Almighty will let the Muslims conquer the Al-Aqsaa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Therefore, beware of scheming and do not be stunned by the people who plot against you. Qays ibn Sa‘d ibn‘Ubaadah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "Had I not heard the Prophet say that plots and deception are in Hell, I would have been one of the most evil planners." [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]