He is Both the Oppressor and the Oppressed

‘Adl (fairness and justice) is i’tidaal (balance), and in balance lies the correction of the heart, just as in dhulm (imbalance/oppression) lies its corruption. This is why for every sin that the person has committed he has oppressed his self (dhaaliman li nafsihi). The opposite of dhulm is ‘adl, so this sinful person has not been just to his self, rather he has oppressed it. The correction of the heart lies in ‘adl and its corruption lies in dhulm. Therefore, when the servant oppresses himself he is the oppressor and the oppressed at the same time, likewise when he is just then he is the one who is just and the one upon whom the justice is carried out.

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Advising One Another

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would advise one another sincerely. Remarkably the elder person would not be offended if advised by the young one. The young people would know how to advise the elders with good manners, humbly and respectfully while the elders would accept such advice in the best way and with thanks.

This is the opposite to the situation we see from the light-headed people we have today. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah honour him and grant him blessed peace) said, “The Religion (deen) is advice/sincerity (naseeha).” They asked, “To whom O Messenger of Allah?” He (may Allah honour him and grant him blessed peace) said, “To Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims and their public.” 1

They used to accept advice and thank the adviser. One of them would not think that he had repaid his adviser fully even if he was benevolent to him all his life. That is because the matters related to the Afterlife cannot be compared to the vain and temporary things of this world.

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The Flavor of the Heart

Imaam Ibnul-Qayyim, rahimahullah said: If you would like to draw a conclusion of what is contained in someone’s heart then use as a proof the movements of his tongue, for surely, he will show you what is contained in his heart regardless of whether he wants to or not. Yahyaa Ibn Mu’aadh said,

The hearts are like pots. They boil with that which they contain and their tongues are their ladles [i.e. scooping spoons]. So look at a man when he speaks. His tongue will scoop out for you that which is contained in his heart, whether it is sweet or bitter, fresh or salty and other than that. And the flavor of his heart will become clear to you from that which his tongue scoops out. 1

This means that just as you can taste the flavor of foods being cooked with your tongue and you realize the true flavor of them, similarly you can taste what is in a man’s heart by way of his tongue, in the same manner that you can taste what is in the pot with your tongue.

• Footnote: 1) Collected by Aboo Nu’aym in “al-Hilyah” (vol. 10/pg. 63)
• Source: “al-Jawaabul-Kaafee/ad-Daa wad-Dawaa” (pg. 242-249) – K.S.A.: Daaru Ibnil-Jauzee-2006
• Transcribed from: The Appendix of An Explanation of the Hadeeth: “Say, ‘I believe in Allah’, and then be upright and steadfast” | Ibn Rajab

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