Hadith Text

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one. People asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "By preventing him from oppressing others."

Context and Significance

This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (2444) addresses the comprehensive nature of Islamic brotherhood and the obligation to enjoin good and forbid evil. The Prophet (ﷺ) establishes that our duty toward fellow Muslims extends beyond conventional assistance.

Scholarly Commentary

The scholars explain that "helping" an oppressor means restraining him from injustice, advising him against wrongdoing, and preventing him from transgressing against others' rights. This constitutes true assistance as it saves him from divine punishment and spiritual ruin.

For the oppressed, help entails supporting them against injustice, restoring their rights, and providing comfort and protection. The hadith demonstrates Islam's balanced approach to social justice - protecting both the victim from harm and the perpetrator from further sin.

Practical Implementation

Scholars emphasize that preventing oppression should be done with wisdom and gentle admonition when possible, escalating to stronger measures only when necessary. The objective is reformation, not humiliation.

This teaching establishes the principle that true brotherhood in Islam requires active intervention against injustice, making every Muslim a guardian of justice within the community.