The Paradise-like Valley of Kashmir and Oppression
Beautiful and charming, nestled among clusters of waterfalls, the lush green valley of Kashmir is one of the most exquisite masterpieces created by Allah Almighty. Adorned with fruits, flowers, plants, birds and animals, mountains and streams, it sparkles with beauty at all times — a valley that evokes the feeling of paradise on earth. Yes! This is about that piece of heaven, the Valley of Kashmir. Known as the center of nature’s priceless beauty, the verdant and flourishing Kashmir is a place whose splendor almost everyone dreams of witnessing — to see it is to feel as though one has entered Paradise.
But alas, as always, the people of Kashmir are still subjected to the mountains of oppression and brutality. Trapped in their own homes, the Kashmiris are living under siege. Anyone who dares to step outside is riddled with bullets. The honor of young Kashmiri women is being violated, the beards of elderly men are being pulled out, and the veils of mothers are being dragged through the dirt. What is shocking is that out of the 56 Muslim countries, not a single one has taken a stand against the atrocities being committed against the Kashmiris. It is the Kashmiris themselves who continue to fight their battle for freedom — and it has been many long years since this struggle began.
Oppression in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith
In Islam, it has been declared forbidden (haram) to oppress or wrong any Muslim; therefore,
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم ” لَا تَحَاسَدُوا، وَلَا تَنَاجَشُوا، وَلَا تَبَاغَضُوا، وَلَا تَدَابَرُوا، وَلَا يَبِعْ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَيْعِ بَعْضٍ، وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إخْوَانًا، الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ، لَا يَظْلِمُهُ، وَلَا يَخْذُلُهُ، وَلَا يَكْذِبُهُ، وَلَا يَحْقِرُهُ، التَّقْوَى هَاهُنَا، وَيُشِيرُ إلَى صَدْرِهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ، بِحَسْبِ امْرِئٍ مِنْ الشَّرِّ أَنْ يَحْقِرَ أَخَاهُ الْمُسْلِمَ، كُلُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ حَرَامٌ: دَمُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَعِرْضُهُ” . [رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ].
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Do not envy one another, and do not inflate prices for one another, and do not hate one another, and do not turn away from one another, and do not undercut one another in trade, but [rather] be slaves of Allah and brothers [amongst yourselves]. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: he does not oppress him, nor does he fail him, nor does he lie to him, nor does he hold him in contempt. Taqwa (piety) is right here [and he pointed to his chest three times]. It is evil enough for a man to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. The whole of a Muslim is inviolable for another Muslim: his blood, his property, and his honour.” (Hadith 35, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi)
Oppression is not the trait of a true Muslim
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ لاَ يَظْلِمُهُ وَلاَ يُسْلِمُهُ مَنْ كَانَ فِي حَاجَةِ أَخِيهِ كَانَ اللَّهُ فِي حَاجَتِهِ وَمَنْ فَرَّجَ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ كُرْبَةً فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ بِهَا كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ” .
Salim reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: A Muslim is the brother of a fellow-Muslim. He should neither commit oppression upon him nor ruin him, and he who meets the need of a brot’ier, Allah would meet big needs, and he who relieved a Muslim from hardship Allah would relieve him from the hardships to which he would be put on the Day of Resurrection, and he who did not expose (the follies of a Muslim) Allah would conceal his follies on the Day of Resurrection. (Sahih Muslim 2580)
A special emphasis for the ruler of the time to safeguard himself against the supplication of the oppressed
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ الْمَكِّيُّ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ صَيْفِيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْبَدٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَ مُعَاذًا إِلَى الْيَمَنِ، فَقَالَ “ اتَّقِ دَعْوَةَ الْمَظْلُومِ، فَإِنَّهَا لَيْسَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ اللَّهِ حِجَابٌ ”.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) sent Mu`adh to Yemen and said, “Be afraid, from the curse of the oppressed as there is no screen between his invocation and Allah.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2448)
And a poet once said:
Every cry from the heart of the oppressed is steeped in divine power.
Let someone inform the tyrant—what becomes of cruelty in the end.
When oppression exceeds its limits, Divine wrath is stirred.
And when a Pharaoh raises his head in arrogance, a Moses is born.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا بُرَيْدُ بْنُ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُمْلِي لِلظَّالِمِ فَإِذَا أَخَذَهُ لَمْ يُفْلِتْهُ ” . ثُمَّ قَرَأَ { وَكَذَلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَى وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ}
Abu Musa reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, grants respite to the oppessor. But when He lays Hand upon him, He does not then let him off. Re (the Holy Prophet) then recited this verse: ” Such is the chastisement of thy Lord when He chastises the towns (inhabited by) wrongdoing persons. Surely, His punishment is painful, severe” (Sahih Muslim 2583)
Another blessed Hadith:-
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “ من كانت عنده مظلمة لأخيه، من عرضه أو من شيء، فليتحلله منه اليوم قبل أن لا يكون دينار ولا درهم ، إن كان له عمل صالح أخذ منه بقدر مظلمته، وإن لم يكن له حسنات أخذ من سيئات صاحبه فحمل عليه” ((رواه البخاري)).
Abu Hurairah (May Allah bepleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “He who has done a wrong affecting his brother’s honour or anything else, let him ask his forgiveness today before the time (i.e., the Day of Resurrection) when he will have neither a dinar nor a dirham. If he has done some good deeds, a portion equal to his wrong doings will be subtracted from them; but if he has no good deeds, he will be burdened with the evil deeds of the one he had wronged in the same proportion”. (Riyad as-Salihin 210)
On the Day of Judgment, there will be injustice upon the oppressors of the world
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّ هِشَامَ بْنَ حَكِيمٍ، وَجَدَ رَجُلاً وَهُوَ عَلَى حِمْصَ يُشَمِّسُ نَاسًا مِنَ النَّبَطِ فِي أَدَاءِ الْجِزْيَةِ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ “ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُعَذِّبُ الَّذِينَ يُعَذِّبُونَ النَّاسَ فِي الدُّنْيَا ” .
‘Urwa b. Zubair reported that Hisham b. Hakim found a person (the ruler of Hims) who had been detaining some Nabateans in connection with the dues of Jizya. He said: What is this? I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah would torment those persons who torment people in the world. (Sahih Muslim 2613d)
Oppression will be a cause of many darknesses on the Day of Judgment
وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ: { اِتَّقُوا اَلظُّلْمَ, فَإِنَّ اَلظُّلْمَ ظُلُمَاتٌ يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ, وَاتَّقُوا اَلشُّحَّ , فَإِنَّهُ أَهْلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ } أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ. 1 .
1 - . صحيح. رواه مسلم (2578) وزاد: ” حملهم على أن سفكوا دماءهم، واستحلوا محارمهم”.Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Beware of oppression, for oppression will turn into excessive darkness on the Day of Resurrection and beware of niggardliness, for niggardliness destroyed your predecessors.” Related by Muslim. (Bulugh al-Maram)
On the Day of Judgment, all the good deeds of the oppressor will be given to the one who was wronged
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، – وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ – عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْمُفْلِسُ ” . قَالُوا الْمُفْلِسُ فِينَا مَنْ لاَ دِرْهَمَ لَهُ وَلاَ مَتَاعَ . فَقَالَ ” إِنَّ الْمُفْلِسَ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِصَلاَةٍ وَصِيَامٍ وَزَكَاةٍ وَيَأْتِي قَدْ شَتَمَ هَذَا وَقَذَفَ هَذَا وَأَكَلَ مَالَ هَذَا وَسَفَكَ دَمَ هَذَا وَضَرَبَ هَذَا فَيُعْطَى هَذَا مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ وَهَذَا مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ فَإِنْ فَنِيَتْ حَسَنَاتُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْضَى مَا عَلَيْهِ أُخِذَ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُمْ فَطُرِحَتْ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ طُرِحَ فِي النَّارِ ” .
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Do you know who is poor? They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said: A poor man amongst us is one who has neither dirham with him nor wealth. He (the Holy Prophet) said: The poor of my Umma would be he who would come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers and fasts and Zakat but (he would find himself bankrupt on that day as he would have exhausted his funds of virtues) since he hurled abuses upon others, brought calumny against others and unlawfully consumed the wealth of others and shed the blood of others and beat others, and his virtues would be credited to the account of one (who suffered at his hand). And if his good deeds fall short to clear the account, then his sins would be entered in (his account) and he would be thrown in the Hell-Fire. (Sahih Muslim 2581)
How can we help the Kashmiris?
The catastrophe that has befallen the Kashmiris is a tragic and painful tale, as a result of which countless Kashmiris have been martyred. Their women have been widowed, their children orphaned, and many people wounded, with their homes destroyed. In such circumstances, every Muslim should feel their suffering, and the entire Muslim world should assist them to the best of its ability. This is because, in the Holy Qur’an, Allah Almighty has declared all Muslims to be brothers to one another, as stated in the Divine command:
إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌۭ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ١٠
All believers are but brothers, therefore seek reconciliation between your two brothers, and fear Allah, so that you may be blessed with mercy. (49:10)
And in the noble Hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
وعن النعمان بن بشير رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ” مثل المؤمنين في توادهم وتراحمهم وتعاطفهم، مثل الجسد إذا اشتكى منه عضو تداعى له سائر الجسد بالسهر والحمى” ((متفق عليه)) .
Nu’man bin Bashir (May Allah bepleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever”. (Riyad as-Salihin 224)
Sahih Muslim: 2586
The meaning of this hadith is that all the Muslims of the world are like one body. The characteristic of a body is that if any part of it feels pain, the entire body senses that pain and becomes concerned with alleviating it, doing whatever is within its capacity to relieve the suffering. This is exactly the attitude we should have towards our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters, because all Muslims across the world are like brothers to one another.
If Muslims anywhere in the world—no matter how far or in whichever corner—face hardship, we should consider it as though that hardship has come upon us. It is a demand of our faith that we feel their pain. To feel the suffering of Muslims in such times, and to treat their distress as our own, is a sign that our faith is alive.
In light of the situation in Kashmir, there are several actions we need to take:
First task:
We should make as many supplications as possible for the oppressed Muslims, praying that Allah Almighty helps them and grants them relief from this hardship. Allah, the Almighty, is All-Powerful; whatever is happening is by His will and command. He has full power to change circumstances, therefore, we must turn towards Him. This act (of supplication) is extremely beneficial because no prayer goes to waste—provided it is made while observing the proper etiquette and conditions. Moreover, it is a very easy act; anyone, whether rich or poor, ordinary or distinguished, can do it.
The second duty:
According to one’s financial capacity, one should assist the Kashmiris with the wealth that Allah has provided. At this time, they are in a state of helplessness and dire need; they are in urgent need of assistance. One must help a needy Muslim. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ سَالِمًا، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ، لاَ يَظْلِمُهُ وَلاَ يُسْلِمُهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ فِي حَاجَةِ أَخِيهِ كَانَ اللَّهُ فِي حَاجَتِهِ، وَمَنْ فَرَّجَ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ كُرْبَةً فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرُبَاتِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ”.
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection . ” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2442)
Third Task:
Raise your voice as much as possible against the oppression being inflicted upon the Kashmiris, because remaining silent in the face of injustice is also a form of injustice—just as Allah Almighty has stated:
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ فِتْنَةًۭ لَّا تُصِيبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنكُمْ خَآصَّةًۭ ۖ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ٢٥
And beware of a scourge that shall not fall only on the wrongdoers from among you, and know well that Allah is severe at punishment (8:25)
And a poet once said:
To remain heedless and intoxicated is an injustice.
To remain indifferent and passionless is an injustice.
To avert your eyes from crime is a crime itself.
To stay silent in the face of oppression is an injustice.
