Tyranny brings down its people

Tyranny Brings Down Its People

More than 1,300 years ago, there was an Amir in Khorasan. He was known to be the leader of that community and he was known to be a fair, a just person. However, there was a political turmoil in his time for which he had to put some people in prison.

And one day, as he was browsing the prisoners and the area over there, he was called by one of the prisoners who said to him: "My dear Amir, if you are going to show mercy, then show mercy to those you oppress. Indeed the heavens open wide for the prayer of the oppressed." Like he's warning him. He says, "Beware of those who have no support but Allah Azza wa Jal."

"And they have no protection that they rely on other than a trust in Allah to bring change soon. And they have no weapon in their hands but making du'a to the One, only whom nothing is impossible."

He said that, and then he started calling him by name — Ya Asad. That's his name. And then came a very profound statement that became a proverb in the Arabic language:

Tyranny brings down the people — which means it doesn't matter how strong you think you are, how powerful you think you are, how amazing your achievements against the weak they are, it will bring you down. Because the sunnah of Allah never changes. He said, "Remember that tyranny will bring its people down. And the end of it is disastrous — disastrous to you."

He says, "So do not be deceived by the delay of aid from the Helper, who whenever He wills to assist, will do so." If you don't see Allah helping the poor and the weak and the needy and the oppressed in that moment, don't think Allah abandoned them. Allah knows when He brings that assistance — it will come. And they trust in that assistance that is coming.

He said, "Don't be deceived by the delay of that response from Allah." And He gave those oppressors time, so they can transgress — to show them that their transgression and the result of it will be definitely treacherous.

The Sunnah of Allah in the Earth

Allah made that Sunnatullahi fil ard. If it wasn't for Allah's way and law — that He pushes people against each other — there would come times when the khair is victorious, and sometimes unfortunately it will be the other way around. Sometimes we see, mashaaAllah, the societies are doing well. They become closer to Allah, more religious. And then we become complacent and we get used to that. And then we just become oblivious. We start becoming comfortable with the dunya. And the reminder comes from Allah for things to change.

But then when oppression and tyranny becomes prevalent and takes innocent people in its way, Allah's law is to readjust that balance.

Injustice in Our Time

My message to my dear brothers and sisters, who are seeing what we see today — one of the greatest acts of transgression in our time — is how mankind right now is trying to act in the place of God. They're trying to play the role of God in everything: whether it's in science, human nature, politics, even in war. They're trying to play that role of Allah, and Allah is giving them a chance after a chance after a chance.

One of the latest injustices we have seen just a few days ago — may Allah have mercy on Imam Khalifa, who was executed in Missouri. Even though DNA evidence proved him without any doubt to be innocent, the arrogance of the lawmakers insisted on putting him to execution. Their arrogance — they did not want to review it, or open the case again, or consider the evidence. That tyranny — you could call it racism or discrimination — just pushed them this far to waste an innocent life. And that was just one innocent person.

Imagine what's happening to our brothers and sisters in Gaza today. What's happening in Ad-Difa' and the West Bank today. And people say that tyrants are just having a free time in this life, and no one seems to be able to stop them.

But my dear brothers and sisters, remember — Allah is there. For those who doubt that, Allah says:

They have not shown Allah His proper reverence. They haven't given Allah the right estimate of who He is. And the entire earth and heavens will be in His hand on the Day of Judgement — like it's nothing to Allah. The entire universe will be folded in His hand in a manner befitting His majesty. They've never given Allah the right estimate. And that is why they extend in their transgression.

Consequences of Tyranny and Transgression

Brothers and sisters, there are consequences for transgression and tyranny — whether it's on a personal level, like a person with their spouse (that tyranny and injustice has its own consequence in the dunya and the akhira), or states against states, and the strong against the weak. There are always consequences for that. And Allah has shown that in the Quran and in the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.

Allah talked to us about the nations from before. He says — like: We gave them a chance after a chance after a chance, and then We seized each of them for their sins and their tyranny. Like the people of 'Aad, Thamud, and Fir'awn as well. What have they left behind? Ruins. Those ruins were once the most magnificent things imaginable — the greatest human achievement, the strongest states of all time. Many arrogant states act like this today. But what is left of them? Ruins. And just memories.

Allah says: We have seized each one of them because of their tyranny and their sins that they committed against their people and against humanity.

Allah has also warned us that if this becomes so widespread, that is when the adjusted balance comes back. He says:

Corruption — that which means disrupting the balance of Allah in this life — has become very obvious and clear in the land and in the sea. And He said: Because of what mankind has earned. Which means we are doing this to ourselves. We're causing this. Because of us disrupting the balance Allah created in this life — whether it's the physical balance, the geographical balance, the global warming and the melting of glaciers and all that results from it — or the moral balance as well: between man and woman, the akhlaq and the manners, what is supposed to be right and what is supposed to be wrong.

If that balance is disrupted, and people insist with their tyranny and injustice to enforce it on other people — the strong against the weak, as we see in some states that force certain nations and people to accept certain rules and laws contrary to what Allah has ordained — Allah will come back to readjust that balance. He says: They are going to suffer as a result of what they have done — so that they might reflect. Another meaning: so that they may readjust that balance.

Do Not Despair — Allah Has Not Forsaken You

So when we see the balance is off, my dear brothers and sisters, Allah is allowing it — not that He likes it. He is allowing it for a hikmah, a wisdom, that we may or may not fully know. Like the revival of the spirit of the young people. And the awakening of those who had become completely oblivious and dependent on this dunya. When we see the injustice that's happening in the world, we stand for those who are oppressed. We stand for the weak. Anywhere in the world. And of course, our brothers and sisters in Gaza as well. That is what Allah is allowing — to awaken the ummah.

And they are having their reward with Allah. Allah would delay until the time is right. And who decides when that time is right? None other than Allah. And then when that time comes, no matter how much the oppressors try to offer, to seek amnesty from Allah — it will be too late for them, especially in the akhira. If those oppressors, those tyrants, those wrongdoers had the possession of the entire earth and the heavens — everything in them — to ransom themselves on that Day, they would give it all away.

Ironically — in this world, in this life, they fought for everything. They destroyed so many things just to take possession of it. But on the Day of Judgement, they would be willing to give it all up to save themselves from what Allah has prepared for them.

Brothers and sisters, sometimes when we see injustice and tyranny becoming so strong and so prevalent, we start becoming desperate. Allah reminds us in the Quran that He is watching. He said to the Prophet ﷺ:

This time — when the sun is at its brightest in the morning — when everything is clear, like there is no doubt. When you see the sun at its brightest moment, everything becomes clear to you. But there will be moments in your life — وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ — when the night comes and takes over. When the night takes over, that brightness is gone. People become disoriented. You don't see the light. You don't know where you are going — unless you have something to work with, a light in your hand to see where you are going.

So Allah is reminding us of the alternation between the clarity of things and the darkness of times — the good times and the difficult times — in this surah for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This surah was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ when the revelation of the Quran had stopped for a few extra days. The Prophet was anxious to receive answers to questions he was getting from the people of Mecca. The answer was delayed. So the Meccans told him: "You see — your Lord has forsaken you. He left you."

And after that, Allah revealed:

Your Lord has not forsaken you. He has not left you. He is still there. Just because you don't see Allah sending a specific action that you desire to see — that doesn't mean He left you. That doesn't mean He is not there.

So wherever we find ourselves in our world — and I know there are a lot of emotions of desperation and waiting, after all this time, seeing how people have abandoned the cause of the innocent — you start becoming desperate. But Allah says: مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ — Allah has not forsaken you. He did not leave you alone. He is still there.

It is our duty to go back to Allah. He said to the Prophet ﷺ:

Look — you were an orphan, and I sheltered you. You were in need, and I gave you wealth and family. You were weak, and I supported you in all aspects. It happened before and it will happen again. I will take care of you.

So we may now have less of wealth, health, and strength — but it doesn't mean it will be forever. Allah is still there. Our duty to Allah is to make sure that we do not participate in that injustice, we do not participate in that tyranny, and we are prepared. The alternation of khair and sharr — good and evil — will keep going on. So when that turn comes for the khair to be victorious, be prepared for that.

Examples of Tyrants Taken by Allah

My dear brothers and sisters, Allah has given us so many examples in the Quran of tyrants whom He took swiftly. Take the example of Fir'awn — the greatest power of that time, the strongest power — chasing after Bani Isra'il with Musa alayhis salam. So arrogantly, he goes through the miracle he saw with his own eyes — a miracle that was clearly not meant for him — and he still wanted to go through it. And he drowned because of that.

Look at the example of Qarun — the one whom Allah described as having so much wealth that the keys to his treasures could not be carried by the strongest of men. That is just the keys — not the treasure itself. And when he was asked, "How come you have all this wealth?" — what did he say? He claimed: "That is from me. I did that. I was brilliant enough to collect all that wealth." As Allah described him in the Quran — he said: "That is because of my own effort." And Allah took all of this away from him in an instant.

Our Duty: Be Agents of Good

Brothers and sisters, when the time comes, Allah will bring it. And our duty is to make sure that when that happens, we become the agents of khair — the agents of positive change. That is your duty to Allah first and foremost, and then to the weak and the oppressed.

O Allah, teach us what benefits us, and benefit us with what You have taught us. You are the One who teaches the wise. O Allah, shower Your piety upon us — You are the Pure, the best of those who purify. You are our Guardian and Protector.

O Allah, bless and send peace upon our benevolent Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and upon his family and all of his companions. And may Allah be pleased with the rightful caliphs — Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali — and all the companions, and those who follow the good teachings of this religion and maintain the prayer.