Another example is what some neighbours do: you find a man shifting the boundary markers onto his neighbour’s land so that his own plot grows larger. The Prophet ﷺ has authentically stated, “Whoever unlawfully seizes even a handspan (shibr) of land will have a collar of seven earth-layers placed around his neck on the Day of Resurrection.” On the Day of Gathering he will carry—Allah’s refuge is sought—a yoke fashioned from seven strata of the earth. Such behaviour is sheer injustice.

Wrongdoing also includes the case of a person who owes his fellow Muslim some dirhams yet denies the debt, insisting, “You have nothing with me.” This is nothing but devouring wealth in falsehood. Even if the two should stand before a judge and the debtor prevails in court, he will never prevail before Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said, “You present your disputes to me, and perhaps one of you is more eloquent in arguing than the other, so I rule in his favour according to what I hear. But if I allot to someone anything that rightfully belongs to his brother, I am in fact handing him a brand of Fire; let him take it or leave it.”

Therefore, do not imagine that defeating your opponent in court while you are in the wrong will protect you in the Hereafter. The judge rules only by what reaches his ears and has no knowledge of the unseen; but the Knower of every secret—glorified and exalted—is the One who will call you to account on the Day of Resurrection.