Question
Please explain in depth what is the real implication of the Arabic word ‘Zulm’ in the Holy Qur’an. A barrister friend of mine wants to comprehend ‘Zulm’ particularly in the Qur’anic context in sayings like Allah does not guide the ‘Zalimun’.
Answer
The primary meaning of the word ‘Zulm’ is injustice and wrongdoing. The Holy Qur’an has applied the word to connote different acts because of a common characteristic of these acts. The words ‘Allah does not guide the Zalimun’ occur in the following verses of the Holy Qur’an: 2:258, 3:86, 5:51, 6:144, 9:19, 9:109, 28:50, 46:10, 61:7, 62:5. In all the instances, the real implication can only be ascertained after analyzing the context in which these verses occur. For example 2:258 reads:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِي حَآجَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي رِبِّهِ أَنْ آتَاهُ اللّهُ الْمُلْكَ إِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّيَ الَّذِي يُحْيِـي وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا أُحْيِـي وَأُمِيتُ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ يَأْتِي بِالشَّمْسِ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ فَبُهِتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ وَاللّهُ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ (٢٥٨:٢)
Did you not see him who had an argument with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had given him the kingdom; how, when Abraham said: my Lord is He who gives life and causes death, he answered: I give life and cause death. Abraham said: lo! Allah causes the sun to rise in the East, so do you cause it to come up from the West. Thus was the disbeliever abashed. And Allah guides not the wrong doing folk. (2:258)
Answered by: Tariq Mahmood Hashmi
Date: 2015-03-03
