قالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
They said: Our Lord! We have been unjust to ourselves, and if Thou forgive us not, and have (not) mercy on us, we shall certainly be of the losers.
CONTEXT OF DUA:
This dua was made by Adam (AS) and Hawa (Eve)(RA). Allah SWT told them they would live in jannah but they have to avoid just one tree and not eat from it and warned them that Shaitan is their open enemy who would try to tempt them so they should stay away from him. However, both Adam (RA) and Hawa (RA), despite the warning they ended up eating from the forbidden tree. When they did, the clothes of Jannah they wore, were removed and their private parts were exposed to them which they were unaware of before. They felt humiliated and immediately started covering themselves with leaves. They then called out to Allah SWT, admitted their mistake and sought forgiveness.
DEFINITION OF DHULM:
💎 Dhulm means wrongdoings, sins or oppression. We can do dhulm to others by not giving them their rights, by being selfish, unjust and cruel to others. Allah’s prescribed limits are guidance (light) and crossing them is dhulm (darkness). Dhulm is crossing the limits of Allah and disobedience leads the heart to become heedless.
For example, cheating people out of their money, killing someone, slandering, back biting etc are all examples of crossing limits.
💎We can in the same way do dhulm to ourselves. By disobeying and crossing the limits set by Allah and not understanding that these boundaries are good for us. For example, if I do not pray I’m doing dhulm to myself because I’m taking myself out of Allah’s protection and shelter. If I drink alcohol or take intoxicants I’m damaging my physical health and my spiritual heart. Allah SWT says in Surah Luqman that the biggest dhulm we do to ourselves is shirk, associating partners with Allah.
وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ
And when Luqman said to his son while he admonished him: O my son! do not associate aught with Allah; most surely polytheism is a grievous iniquity–
It is a dhulm because only Allah has the right to be worshipped. This is both injustice against ourselves in depriving ourselves from the Mercy of Allah and also an injustice against Allah that we are not giving Him His right of worship which He has over us.
REFLECTIONS ON DUA:
💎 In every narration narrated to us there are lessons and guidance. Here Allah SWT is helping us to understand that we are humans and we make mistakes. Mistakes are part of being human. We are not perfect and can never be perfect, no matter how hard we try. Consider this: Hazrat Adam (AS)was in jannah under Allah’s direct instruction, yet he slipped.
💎We struggle with obedience in life, we struggle with doing the right thing. What is forbidden to us holds a huge attraction for us. We may have 9 halal (permissible) options but the one restriction upon us is what we desire. Stopping ourselves from the forbidden is our battle in life. and fighting with the ‘self’ is the hardest battle, but despite it being difficult it is the best way to live our life. It’s good for us in this world and the hereafter. It means we are living a life of consciousness as aware beings and not falling into spiritual blindness.
💎 Generally when we do something wrong we have two attitudes: either we feel ‘guilty ‘about our mistakes or we ‘blame’ others for it.
💎 Every action has a consequence. Admitting our mistakes means we know we are weak. It shows we take responsibility for our actions and behaviours. It helps us grow as human beings and increases our wisdom and understanding about how to solve problems in life.
💎 Blaming others for our mistakes constricts our hearts. It’s the easy option. It means we don’t have to feel the pain of mistakes we make. We just dump the pain on someone else. This is what shaytan (satan) did. He blamed Allah for his short comings. He didn’t take responsibility.
💎 What did Adam (AS) realise I wonder at that point when he realised his mistake? Put yourself in his shoes for a moment.
He realised that he had ‘feelings’. He realised he had choice. He realised without Allah he is nothing. He realised who truly his sincere Friend is. He felt the shame and embarrassment for not being grateful for all the blessings of Jannah. He felt how could I do this? He felt regret and remorse and the pain of those feelings. His heart felt the excruciating pain of potential loss. What if I lose Allah my Friend? He realised how much he loved Allah. He feared the consequence of his action, so He feared Allah’s response.
💎 Their response was that they both turned to Allah. Allah gave them the words so they could seek forgiveness. Seeking forgiveness opens the doors of Mercy and makes the heart fertile to receive this guidance. Subhan Allah
💎They said we have wronged our souls, forgive us have mercy upon us and save us from loss.
💎 Loss here means complete destruction. Iblees chose complete destruction over Allah’s Mercy and was distanced from Allah’s Mercy. If you lose Allah’s Mercy you have no one left to turn to because He is the Master of the universe.
So always remember to do self-analysis. We must take responsibility for our purification. If we wrong ourselves then don’t despair turn to Allah and seek forgiveness. Don’t oppress anyone with your actions either. If you realise you’ve hurt someone then apologise. Don’t let your ego stop you.
Narrated Jabir RA :
Allah’s Messenger (SAAW) said: “Beware of oppression, for oppression will turn into excessive darkness on the Day of Resurrection (hadith 120: Muslim)
Our dhulm would take away the light we need on the sirat because we caused darkness in someone else’s life by oppressing them and darkness in our own lives by distancing ourselves from the Mercy of Allah. This is serious so safeguard yourself in the worship of Allah and His obedience. May Allah forgive us for all the sins we committed knowingly and unknowingly and make us upright under His love and Mercy. Ameen
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