Polytheism is indeed a great injustice.

Polytheism is indeed a great injustice.’ [3] “ This verse emphasizes that shirk represents a betrayal of the Creator’s right to exclusive worship and it is so serious because it goes against the very essence of Islamic belief—that Allah is One and has no partners. Injustice towards oneself: Sinning or neglecting one’s spiritual duties is often portrayed as self-oppression, harming one’s soul.

For instance, the Qur’an says: “…Allah did not wrong them, but they used to wrong themselves [4] .” This highlights the Qur’anic view that our actions have consequences and that failing to align oneself with divine guidance results in self-inflicted harm. Injustice towards others: Acts like exploitation, corruption, and tyranny fall under Ẓulm.

The Qur’an unequivocally condemns such behaviors, as in: “…Allah does not like the wrongdoers [5] .” This verse reflects divine disapproval of any form of injustice in human interactions. Meanwhile, oppression (Ẓulm) can take many forms in our daily lives: Social injustice: The Qur’an places great emphasis on protecting the vulnerable, such as orphans and the poor.

It warns against exploiting those who are powerless: “So, as for the orphan, do not oppress him [6] .” Abuse of power: Tyrants who oppress their people are strongly condemned. The story of Pharaoh, who divided and oppressed his subjects, serves as a timeless lesson: “Indeed Pharaoh tyrannized over the land, reducing its people to factions, abasing one group of them, slaughtering their sons, and sparing their women.

Indeed, He was one of the agents of corruption [7] .” Religious persecution: Preventing others from practicing their faith is another form of oppression: “ Who is a greater wrongdoer than those who deny access to the mosques of Allah lest His Name be celebrated therein, and try to ruin them? [8] “ Interestingly, the Qur’an doesn’t just define oppression (Ẓulm), it also warns us of its consequences.

Oppressors face the risk of divine punishment [9] (Qur’an 18:59); deprived of divine guidance (Qur’an 2:258) and eternal failure [10] (Qur’an 22:71). In addition, the Qur’an also teaches us how to combat oppression and promote justice. It commands the believers to be fair and just (Qur’an 4:58), oppose tyranny (Qur’an 4:58), and support the oppressed (Qur’an 4:75).

The Oppressed in the Qur’an The Qur’an doesn’t just instruct us to fight oppression and injustice but also enjoin us to support the oppressed.