The oppressed supplicating against his oppressor

Reference: I’laam al-Mu’aasireen bi-Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen – Page 405-406

Question: Does the oppressed have the right to supplicate against his oppressor?

Response: The oppressed can supplicate to Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) against his oppressor according to the level of oppression he has suffered; And the evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet ﷺ:

«Beware the supplication of the oppressed, for indeed there is no barrier between it and Allaah»

Often the oppressed is unable to respond to his oppressor nor be direct with him [for a number of reasons]; Either he is a relative of his or friend or colleague with whom he is unable to speak regarding this [matter of oppression]. So, in this case, there is no recourse for him except the supplication [to Allaah].

However, it is sometimes said that such-and-such a person has wronged another. So, [in this case] is it permissible for him to:

i) Supplicate to Allaah against the one who has wronged him;

or should he attach a condition to his supplication by saying:

ii) “O Allaah! If such-and-such [a person] oppressed me or wronged me in a matter…” and hereby he mentions the matter in his supplication?

The second [of the two supplications], because sometimes it could be that he accuses a relative of afflicting evil eye upon someone or that he has afflicted someone with magic, however, he is unable to speak [out] because he has no evidence other than clear signs which indicate that he has wronged [this person]. So, here the Lord of the Worlds (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) knows, so [the supplication is to be done as follows]:

«O Allaah! If such-and-such a person is the one who has afflicted me – and here you supplicate according to that which you have experienced in this matter» – then this is sufficient, however, if a person is patient and perseveres and leaves the affair with Allaah, then that is good.

He is a graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having graduated from the Institute of Arabic Language, and later the Faculty of Sharee'ah in 2004. He currently resides in Birmingham, UK.

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