Abu Dharr quoted God’s messenger as saying among the things he transmitted from God who is blessed and exalted that He has said, “My servants, I have made oppression unlawful for myself and I have made it unlawful among you, so do not oppress one another. My servants, you are all straying except those whom I guide, but if you ask for my guidance I will guide you. My servants, you are all hungry except those whom I feed, but if you ask me for food I will feed you. My servants, you are all naked except those whom I have clothed, but if you ask me for clothing I will clothe you. My servants, you are all sinning night and day, but I forgive all sins, so if you ask me forgiveness I will forgive you. My servants, you will not be able to injure me and succeed in such a purpose, neither will you be able to benefit me and succeed in such a purpose. My servants, even if the first and last of you, men and jinn, were as pious as the one with the most pious heart among you, that would not cause any increase in my dominion. My servants, if the first and last of you, men and jinn, were as wicked as the man with the most wicked heart among you, that would not cause any diminution in my dominion. My servants, if the first and last of you, men and jinn, were to stand in one plain and make request of me and I were to give every man what he asked, that would make no more diminution of what I possess than a needle would when put into the sea. My servants, they are only your deeds which I put to your account and then pay you in full for them; so let him who experiences good praise God, and let him whose experience is different blame no one but himself.” Muslim transmitted it.
Divine Prohibition of Oppression
Allah Almighty begins by declaring oppression (dhulm) unlawful for Himself and for His servants, establishing justice as a fundamental divine attribute and human obligation. This prohibition encompasses all forms of injustice - against oneself through sin, against others through transgression, and against creation through misuse.
Universal Human Dependence
The hadith emphasizes humanity's complete dependence on Allah for guidance, sustenance, and forgiveness. The phrase "you are all straying/hungry/naked/sinning" underscores our inherent neediness (faqr) before the Self-Sufficient Lord (al-Ghani).
The conditional "if you ask Me" highlights the principle of divine response to sincere supplication, demonstrating Allah's boundless mercy while preserving human responsibility to seek and ask.
Divine Transcendence and Self-Sufficiency
Allah's declaration that humans cannot benefit or harm Him affirms His absolute independence (al-Samad). This serves to purify worship from any notion that Allah needs our service, directing devotion purely for His pleasure.
The imagery of collective piety or wickedness not affecting Allah's dominion reinforces His absolute perfection and unchanging sovereignty, freeing worship from utilitarian calculations.
The Infinite Divine Treasury
The analogy of the needle in the ocean illustrates the limitless nature of Allah's bounty and mercy. No amount of giving diminishes His treasures, encouraging believers to ask abundantly without fear of exhausting divine generosity.
Divine Justice and Human Accountability
The concluding section establishes the principle of complete recompense for deeds. "I put to your account" reflects divine precision in recording actions, while "pay you in full" guarantees perfect justice. The instruction to praise God for good and blame oneself for hardship cultivates gratitude and self-reflection.