for the subjects have no love for an oppressor, and their prayers against him never cease. He can take no real pleasure in his realm, and the causes of his ruin race toward him.
The author of this book remarks: Injustice (ẓulm) is of two kinds. The first is the ruler’s tyranny over his subjects—the strong over the weak, the harsh over the poor. The second is the wrong you inflict upon your own self, which is but the bitter fruit of your disobedience. Therefore, do not wrong others, so that oppression may be lifted from you, as the transmitted reports have enjoined.
Anecdote: It is related that among the Children of Israel there was a man who earned his living by catching fish, providing for his wife and children from what he hauled in. One day a large fish fell into his net. Overjoyed, he said, “I shall take this fish, sell it, and spend its price on my family’s needs.” On the road he was stopped by a government enforcer (one of the ʿawānī officers), who asked, “Will you sell me this fish?” The fisherman thought, “If I say yes, he will seize it for half its worth,” so he replied, “I will not sell it.” The officer struck him a painful blow on the back with a stick he was carrying and, by force, snatched the fish away.
The fisherman lifted his hands in supplication: “My Lord, You created me poor and weak, and You created him strong and violent. O Allah, take my right from him in this world, for I cannot wait until the Hereafter.”
The usurper went home with the fish, handed it to his wife, and ordered her to roast it. When she had done so and set it before him, he reached out to eat, but the fish opened its mouth and jabbed his finger with such a sting that his composure vanished and his patience fled. He complained to a physician, who said, “You must cut off this finger lest the pain spread to the whole hand.” The finger was amputated, but the pain shifted to the palm and only intensified, causing him to tremble with fear. The physician said, “Then cut off the hand at the wrist, lest the pain reach the forearm.” The hand was severed, and the pain moved to the forearm. “Amputate the forearm,” the doctor advised, “so it does not reach the shoulder.” The forearm was cut, whereupon the pain settled in the shoulder. Agonized, the man wandered aimlessly, calling upon his Lord to relieve him. He came upon a tree, slumped beneath it, and fell asleep.
In his dream he heard a voice say, “Poor man, how much of your arm will you keep cutting off? Go to your adversary and appease him.” He awoke, reflected, and said, “It was I who seized the fish…"