7. SERVICING OPPRESSORS IS OPPRESSION
I wonder at a person who believes in Allah, Most High, and His Punishment yet still serves a ruler (or any person in authority) despite his evident injustice and oppression!
I truly wonder at such a person as I cannot understand what he admires in those people!
If he serves an oppressor because of his interest in worldly matters, he should know that it is evident the oppressor wants to be made the head of any assembly he attends, acts arrogantly with those in his rank, and takes from others, unlawful money though he knows it’s an unlawful source. He does not even mind accepting bribes.
However, the oppressor is eventually either deposed, or his possessions impounded. Such bitterness and change of condition shall wipe away all the sweetness (halawa) he tasted while being in his position.
And, when he becomes poor due to losing all what he had, the tongues that used to praise him shall begin to criticise and condemn him. If he was saved from all of that, he will never be safe from being watched and having people being cautious of him for he is like a person in the middle of the sea, if he does not drown, his heart shall be in constant fear (kawf) of drowning.
If he serves them due to religious reasons, he should understand that such people do not allow him to act according to the teachings of religion but rather command him to leave what is obligatory and perform what is prohibited, which (ironically) causes his religion to be totally compromised.
And indeed the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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