In Islam,
zalim (derived from the Arabic word
zulm, ظ ل م) fundamentally means placing something in the wrong place, committing injustice, or acting tyrannically
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In Islam, treating other people poorly—whether through bullying, stealing, lying, or cruelty—is called Zulm al-Ibad (injustice against God's servants).
Unlike sins committed quietly in private, God does not easily forgive a
zalim who hurts other people until the victim forgives them first.
Here are the specific Quranic verses and powerful descriptions of how God promises to punish those who wrong, hurt, or oppress other human beings.
1. The Divine Curse on People who Hurt Others
If a person uses their power, money, or words to mistreat others, they lose God's mercy. In the Quran, God places a literal curse on them, which means they are completely cut off from true peace and happiness.
"Unquestionably, the curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers (
Zalimun)... They will not be granted respite (relief)."
—
Surah Hud, 11:18-22
2. A Painful Punishment for Corrupt and Cruel Leaders
This verse specifically focuses on people who cause trouble on earth, abuse their authority, and treat everyday people unfairly. God warns that a very painful punishment is waiting for them.
"The blame is only against those who oppress the people and tyrannize upon the earth without right. For those there will be a painful punishment."
— Surah Ash-Shura, 42:42
3. Stealing from the Vulnerable (Like Orphans)
Taking things that belong to others is a massive act of
zulm. The Quran uses terrifying imagery for people who steal from or cheat vulnerable people, saying they are filling their own stomachs with fire.
"Indeed, those who consume the property of orphans unjustly (
zulman) only consume into their bellies fire, and they will burn in a Blaze."
—
Surah An-Nisa, 4:10
4. Biting on Their Own Hands in Regret
On the Day of Judgment, when the
zalim sees the people they bullied, backstabbed, or cheated getting justice, they will feel so much regret that they will literally bite their own hands in despair.
"And the Day the wrongdoer (
zalim) will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, 'Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way.'"
—
Surah Al-Furqan, 25:27
5. No Escape: Trapped in Walls of Fire
For those who refuse to stop hurting others, the Quran describes a prison of fire that will completely surround them, leaving absolutely no way out.
"Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers (
Zalimun) a fire whose walls will surround them."
—
Surah Al-Kahf, 18:29
How the Punishment Works (The "Bankrupt" Person)
To understand exactly how God punishes this, Prophet Muhammad gave a famous explanation using an everyday example:
Imagine a person who prays, fasts, and gives to charity every day. But, they also insulted this person, lied about that person, stole money from another, and hit someone else.
On Judgment Day, God will take away all the good deeds (the prayers and fasts) from the
zalim and hand them over to the victims as payment for their pain. If the
zalim runs out of good deeds, God will take the bad deeds of the victims and pile them onto the
zalim. The
zalim will then be thrown into hell, completely bankrupt.
Would you like to see Hadiths (sayings of the Prophet) that talk about how the prayers of a victim go straight to God, or do you want to know how a person can fix things if they realize they have been a
zalim to someone else?
