Oppressor

When Imam Ahmad was imprisoned, one of the prison guards came to him and asked:

يا أبا عبد الله الحديث الذي روي في الظلمة وأعوانهم صحيح ؟
“Is the hadith regarding the oppressors and those that aid them authentic?”

Ahmad said: “Yes.”

The prison guard then asked: “Am I an aide of the oppressors?”

Ahmad replied:

فأعوان الظلمة من يأخذ شعرك ويغسل ثوبك ويصلح طعامك ويبيع ويشتري منك فأما انت فمن الظلمة أنفسهم
“No. The aides of the oppressors are those that comb your hair, wash your clothes, prepare your meals, and buy and sell from you.
As for you, you ARE one of the oppressors themselves.”

[“Manaaqib Al-Imaam Ahmad”, p. 397].

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* The only time when good people can get close to evil rulers is if they can bring positive reform: https://www.facebook.com/mohmand.laghmani/posts/10159879641148496
** The picture is just a mimic, not actual representation.