Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 923 [Read full issue]
No Harm
Abu Said Al Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said, "No harm nor harming." [Ibn Majah]
Be aware that people who harm their brothers and sisters are being unjust to them and injustice is haram. Some said that 'harm' and 'harming' mean the same but the Prophet repeated the word for emphasis. Ibn Habib said that, according to Arabic linguists, harm (in Arabic) is the noun and harming (in Arabic) is the verb. So 'no harm' means no one is to cause harm to anybody else and 'no harming' means do not harm each other.
Al-Mahasini said that harm is what benefits you and hurts others (and harming is what doesn't benefit you but hurts others.)
Some said that harm is harming someone who didn't harm you. And harming is harming someone who harmed you by means other than obtaining equal retribution and remuneration.
The important thing to know is that people are not allowed to harm their brothers and sisters, regardless whether they harmed them or not. However, they are permitted to exact retribution and punishment in accordance with the sunna, if they can, for such action is not a form of injustice or harm.
Compiled From:
"Ibn-Daqiq's Commentary on the Nawawi Forty Hadiths" - Ibn Daqiq Al-Eid