Verses on Injustice in the Holy Quran
The Holy Quran contains numerous significant verses that address the concept of injustice, detailing the consequences for the wrongdoer and God’s means of retribution against those who commit injustice. Additionally, it clarifies that God – the Exalted – is free from any form of injustice. The following sections will highlight various verses in line with their contexts.
Verses Affirming God’s Justice
In His sacred book, God – the Almighty – includes verses that emphasize His freedom from wrongdoing against His creation. Some of these verses are as follows:
- He stated: (وَمَا اللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ظُلْمًا لِّلْعِبَادِ).
- He stated: (وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِظَلاَّمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ).
- He stated: (وَمَا اللّهُ يُرِيدُ ظُلْمًا لِّلْعَالَمِينَ).
- He stated: (إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَاعِفْهَا وَيُؤْتِ مِن لَّدُنْهُ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا).
- He stated: (إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَظْلِمُ النَّاسَ شَيْئًا وَلَـكِنَّ النَّاسَ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ).
Verses Regarding the Punishment of the Unjust
God – the Exalted – does not leave the unjust unpunished. Even though He may delay their retribution, it is due to a divine wisdom known only to Him. The following verses discuss the fate and punishment of the unjust:
- He stated in Surah Hud: (وَكَذَلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَى وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ).
- He stated: (وَنَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّتِي كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ).
- He stated: (مَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ حَمِيمٍ وَلا شَفِيعٍ يُطَاعُ).
- He stated: (وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ).
- He stated: (أَلاَ لَعْنَةُ اللّهِ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ).
- He stated: (وَقِيلَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ ذُوقُوا مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ).
- He stated: (إِنَّهُ لاَ يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ).
- He stated: (إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ).
- He stated: (احْشُرُوا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَأَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَاهْدُوهُمْ إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْجَحِيمِ وَقِفُوهُمْ إِنَّهُم مَّسْئُولُونَ).
Verses on Self-Injustice
A believer may commit injustice against himself by indulging in sins and transgressions that anger the Lord of the Worlds. The Quranic verses clarify the sins that represent injustice, as follows:
- Consumption of orphans’ wealth unjustly; He stated: (إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ الْيَتَامَى ظُلْمًا إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًا).
- Transgressing the limits set by God; He stated: (وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُ).
- Causing harm to one’s wife by keeping her against her will; He stated: (وَلَا تُمْسِكُوهُنَّ ضِرَارًا لِّتَعْتَدُوا وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُ).
- Preventing people from attending places of worship; He stated: (وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ وَسَعَى فِي خَرَابِهَا).
- Remaining silent against unjust testimony; He stated: (وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن كَتَمَ شَهَادَةً عِندَهُ مِنَ اللّهِ وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ).
- Abandoning divine commands; He stated: (وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا وَنَسِيَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ).
- Fabricating lies against God; He stated: (فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللّهِ كَذِبًا لِيُضُلَّ النَّاسَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ).
- Unjustly taking a life; He stated: (وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللّهُ إِلاَّ بِالحَقِّ وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِ سُلْطَانًا).
- Taking one’s own life; He stated: (وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا *وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ عُدْوَانًا وَظُلْمًا فَسَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِ نَارًا).