Gifts of Knowledge

Shaikh Hammad al-Ansaari, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Why is polytheism [shirk] called oppression [dhulm]?

Because polytheism is to place worship where it doesn’t belong. A person who worships something else instead of Allaah, like an angel, a prophet, a tree, a stone or clay, or some item, or nature—such a person has placed worship where it doesn’t belong, and that is why Allaah عزوجل called it oppression. Oppression is to place something where it doesn’t belong.”

Al-Jaami fi Tafsir Surah al-Faatihah, p. 109.

Tagged: dhulm, Hammaad al-Alsaari, oppression, polytheism, shirk, tawheed