45/16. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2584a — Help the Oppressed and Stop Oppression
Supporting One's Brother Whether He Is Doing Wrong Or Being Wronged
Hadith About Helping the Oppressed and Stopping Oppression
Sahih Muslim : 2584a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2584a
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ اقْتَتَلَ غُلاَمَانِ غُلاَمٌ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَغُلاَمٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَنَادَى الْمُهَاجِرُ أَوِ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ يَا لَلْمُهَاجِرِينَ . وَنَادَى الأَنْصَارِيُّ يَا لَلأَنْصَارِ . فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " مَا هَذَا دَعْوَى أَهْلِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ " . قَالُوا لاَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ أَنَّ غُلاَمَيْنِ اقْتَتَلاَ فَكَسَعَ أَحَدُهُمَا الآخَرَ قَالَ " فَلاَ بَأْسَ وَلْيَنْصُرِ الرَّجُلُ أَخَاهُ ظَالِمًا أَوْ مَظْلُومًا إِنْ كَانَ ظَالِمًا فَلْيَنْهَهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ نَصْرٌ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَظْلُومًا فَلْيَنْصُرْهُ " .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
Two young men, one from the Muhajirin (emigrants) and the other one from the Ansar (helpers) fell into dispute and the Muhajir called his fellow Muhajirin, and the Ansari (the helper) called the Ansar (for help). In the meanwhile, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came there and said: What is this, the proclamation of the days of jahiliya (ignorance)?They said: Allah's Messenger, there is nothing serious. The two young men fell into dispute and the one struck at the back of the other. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Well, a person should help his brother whether he is an oppressor or an oppressed. If he is the oppressor he should prevent him from doing it, for that is his help; and if he is the oppressed he should be helped (against oppression).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2584aIn-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 80USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 32, Hadith 6254
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2584a
This Hadith about helping the oppressed and oppressor gives a clear lesson on Muslim brotherhood. Two young men disputed, and each side called his own group for help. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم described this kind of call as a proclamation from the days of ignorance, because it turned a personal dispute into group loyalty. He then taught a better way: help your brother whether he is oppressed or acting as an oppressor. The meaning is not to support wrongdoing. If someone is the oppressor, helping him means stopping him from the wrong action. If someone is oppressed, helping him means standing against the oppression. The message is simple: loyalty must serve truth, not anger, pride, or tribe.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not turn a personal dispute into blind group loyalty.
- Helping an oppressor means stopping him from oppression.
- An oppressed person deserves support against wrongdoing.
- Brotherhood is tied to justice, not taking sides without truth.
