33/68. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2255 — Help the Oppressor by Stopping Him
Help Your Brother Whether He Is An Oppressor Or Oppressed
Hadith About Helping the Oppressed and the Oppressor
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2255
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2255
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ الْمُكْتِبُ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدٌ الطَّوِيلُ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " انْصُرْ أَخَاكَ ظَالِمًا أَوْ مَظْلُومًا " . قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَصَرْتُهُ مَظْلُومًا فَكَيْفَ أَنْصُرُهُ ظَالِمًا قَالَ " تَكُفُّهُ عَنِ الظُّلْمِ فَذَاكَ نَصْرُكَ إِيَّاهُ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
The Prophet(s.a.w) said: "Help Your Brother Whether He Is An Oppressor Or Oppressed." It Was Said: "O Messenger Of Allah! I Help Him When He Is Oppressed. But How Can I Help Him When He Oppresses?" He Said: "Prevent Him From Oppression, That Is Your Help For Him."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2255In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 98English translation : Vol. 4, Book 7, Hadith 2255
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2255
This hadith about oppression gives a powerful correction to a common idea of support. The Prophet said to help your brother whether he is an oppressor or oppressed. The Companions understood helping the oppressed, but they asked how to help someone who is oppressing others. The Prophet explained that helping him means preventing him from oppression. This hadith about helping your brother teaches that loyalty is not blind support. True help may mean stopping someone from doing wrong. The message stays very practical: stand with the wronged person, and also save the wrongdoer by stopping the wrongdoing.
What we learn from this hadith
- Helping the oppressed is clearly supported in the hadith.
- Helping the oppressor does not mean supporting his oppression.
- Stopping someone from oppression is a form of help.
- True brotherhood includes preventing harm and wrongdoing.
