The first is wrongdoing one inflicts on his own soul, the gravest of which is shirk (associating partners with Allah). Allah says, “Indeed, associating others with Allah is a tremendous injustice” (Luqman 31:13). The idolater elevates a created being to the rank of the Creator, thereby placing things where they do not belong. Most of the threats directed at “the wrongdoers” in the Quran are in fact aimed at the polytheists. After shirk come the various acts of disobedience, major and minor alike.

The second is the injustice a servant commits against another servant; this is the type mentioned in the hadith. In the Farewell Pilgrimage the Prophet ﷺ declared: “Your blood, your wealth, and your honour are inviolable for you, just as this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this land of yours, is inviolable.” Reported by al-Bukhari (67) and Muslim (6791).

5 – The hadith plainly forbids any injustice among people concerning every one of their rights, even the smallest of them. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Even if it is only a twig of an arak stick.” Reported by Muslim (137). Accordingly, one must free himself from all liabilities toward other people. Al-Bukhari (6534) transmits from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever has wronged his brother in anything should seek his pardon today, before some of his good deeds are taken from him. If he has no good deeds, some of his brother’s bad deeds will be taken and cast upon him.”