In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Abu Bakra [may Allaah be pleased with him] reported that the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “There is no wrong doing more likely to bring punishment in this world in addition to what is stored up in the next life than oppression and severing ties of kinship.” (1)

Iyaad Bin Himaar Al-Mujaashi’ee [may Allaah be pleased with him] reported that the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “It has been revealed to me that you be humble so that none behave haughtily towards another person nor transgress against anyone”. (2)

Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadee Al-Madkhalee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: This great hadeeth is from the Jawaami Al-Kalim [i.e. a short statement that contains a vast meaning]. In this hadeeth, the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] guides us to humbleness, whose opposite is haughtiness, transgression, belittling the people and mocking at them. As for the humble person, he is that one who has Islamic manners and deals with his Muslim brothers based on Islamic brotherhood- neither transgresses against them nor mocks at them; neither belittles their rights nor treats them in an evil manner through speech or action. You always see him forgoing his rights out of humility to Allaah [The Blessed and Exalted]. The heart is the place where humility resides and it manifests on the limbs through good speech, good deeds and good dealings with others, and thus a person earns abundant reward. When a Muslim possesses this quality and refrains from exalting himself above the people, then indeed he fights against its opposites, such as belittling others, looking down on the people, treating them in an evil manner through speech and action, and other than that; rather he establishes the rights of brotherhood based on Eemaan just as Islaam calls to this great quality.

This hadeeth guides one to abandon transgression and to be humble. It is (not permissible for) anyone to transgress against another person- neither through speech nor deeds- meaning: Do not transgress against him and thus oppress him. Do not (violate) his honour, blood and wealth, and through this brotherhood based on Eemaan is established, the Muslim actualises this great quality and thus Allaah raises his status. (2.1)

Abu Hurairah [may Allaah be pleased with him] reported that Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Verily, my nation will be afflicted by the disease of nations.” They said, “O Allaah’s Messenger! What is the disease of nations?” The Prophet said, “Insolence, hubris, turning their backs to one another, competing for worldly things, hating each other and miserliness, until there will be oppression and then there will be bloodshed.” (3)

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: Allaah forbade the two types of raising oneself above the people and they are: boasting and transgression, because when one raises himself through something that is true, then indeed he has boasted and if not based on truth then he has transgressed. Both these two behaviours are not permissible”. (4)

Muhammad Bin Ka’b Al-Quradhee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Whoever is involved in three affairs, he will be haunted by it: transgression, breaking a pledge and plotting”, then he recited: [وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ – But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it]. [Soorah Faatir: Ayah: 43]

[يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغْيُكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِكُمْ-O mankind! Your rebellion (disobedience to Allah) is only against your ownselves].[Soorah Yoonus: Ayah: 23]

[فَمَنْ نَكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنْكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ – Then whosoever breaks his pledge only breaks it to his own harm]. [Soorah Al-Fath: Ayah: 10] (5)

[Ref 1: Saheeh Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 29]

[Ref 2: Saheeh Muslim2865]

[Ref 2.1: An Excerpt from ”At-leeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Sisilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1. page 92. slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 3: Saheeh al-Jaami 3658]

[Ref 4: Iqtidaa Siraat Al-Mustaqeem 1/401]

[Ref 5: Dhammul Baghee. Page 88 by Ibn Abee Dunyaa (rahimahullaah)]