Talib writes "The Muslim who thinks deeply about this teaching of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) which is filled with love, affection and brotherhood, will not be able to persist in his hatred unless there is some disease in his heart or some twistedness in his nature.


By Dr. Muhammad Ali Al-Hashemi
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 7
www.alharamain.org
Rabee’ Al-Awwal 1421 (June 2000)

The true Muslim who understands the teachings of Islam knows that the religion that calls for love, continued contact and mutual affection, also is the religion that has forbidden brothers in faith to hate or abandon one another. Islam has explained that two people who truly love one another for the sake of Allah will not be separated by the first minor offence that either of them may commit, because the bond of love for the sake of Allah is too strong to be broken by such minor matters. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: "No two people who love one another for the sake of Allah, or for the sake of Islam, will let the first minor offence of either of them come between them." [Al-Bukhaari in al-Adab Al-Mufrad]

Islam does not ignore human nature; it recognizes that anger may strike in moments of weakness, but it puts a limit on the length of time that anger rnay prevail, and forbids Muslims to continue a dispute beyond this time without one or both of bringing about a reconciliation. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “It is not permissible for a Muslim to be estranged from his brother for more than three days, both of them turning away from one another when they meet. The better of them is the one who is first to greet the other." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The true Muslim who has studied these definitive hadeeths will not be able to bear having a dispute with his brother and being estranged from him, no matter what the reason. Rather, he will hasten to bring about a reconciliation, because the better of the two is the one who is first to give salaam. If the other returns the greeting, both of them will have a share of the reward for the reconciliation, and if he does not return it, then the one who gave the greeting will be absolved of the sin of forsaking his brother while the one who refused to return the salaam will have to bear the burden of that sin alone. This is made clear by the hadeeth in which Abu Hurayrah (radiallahu ‘anhu) said: “I heard the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) say: 'It is not permissible for a man to be estranged from a believer for more than three days. If three days have passed, then he should go and give salaam to him; if he returns the salaam then both of them will have a share in the reward, and if he does not respond then the one who gave salaam will be absolved of the sin of estrangement." [Al-Bukhaari in al-Adab Al-Mufrad]

The longer the estrangement lasts, the greater is the sin and the more severe is the punishment that will befall the two who are split by the dispute. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: "Whoever is estranged from his brother for a year, it is as if he has shed his blood". [Al-Bukhaari in al-Adab Al-Mufrad]
The Islamic system of education is based on mutual love and affection, and ongoing contact. Therefore mutual hatred and envy should have no place in the life of the true Muslim. How could he allow such bad characteristics when he knows the teachings of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) which enjoin morals and manners the like of which have never been known since man first walked on the face of the earth? The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: "There should be no breaking off of ties, no turning away from one another, no hating one another, and no envying one another. Be brothers, as Allah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) has commanded you." (Muslim)
"Beware of suspicion, for speaking on the basis of suspicion is the worst kind of lie. Do not seek out one another's faults, do not spy on one another, do not compete with one another, do not envy one another, do not hate one another, and do not turn away from one another. O servants of Allah be brothers." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
"Do not envy one another, do not outbid one another (in order to inflate prices), do not hate one another do not turn away from one another, and do not enter into a transaction when others have already entered into it. O servants of Allah be brothers. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does not oppress him, humiliate him or look down upon him. Taqwa here - and so saying, he pointed to his chest three times - "It is evil enough for a man to look down upon his Muslim brother. The whole of a Muslim's being is sacred to another Muslim – his blood, his wealth and his honor are inviolable." (Muslim)
The Muslim who thinks deeply about this teaching of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) which is filled with love, affection and brotherhood, will not be able to persist in his hatred unless there is some disease in his heart or some twistedness in his nature. Therefore Islam issues a stern warning to those hard-hearted people who are deviating from true Islam and denying its spirit of tolerance by insisting on remaining estranged. They are risking an awful fate in the Hereafter. Their actions may prevent them from attaining the mercy and forgiveness of Allah, and may close the doors of Paradise to them. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “The doors of Paradise are opened on Monday and Thursday, and every servant who does not associate anything with Allah will be forgiven, except for the man who bears a grudge against his brother. It will be said, 'Wait for these two until they reconcile, wait for these two until they reconcile, wait for these two until they reconcile " (Muslim)
The great sahaabi Abul-Darda' (radiallahu ‘anhu) used to say: "Shall I not tell you about something that is better for you than charity and fasting? Reconcile between your brothers, for hatred diminishes reward." [Al-Bukhaari in Adab Al-Mufrad]
This is deep and penetrating insight, on the part of this sahaabi whose intelligence and good sense the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to trust, into the spirit of this religion which is based on brotherhood and love. He understood that hatred cancels out good deeds and destroys rewards, so reconciling the estranged Muslim with his brother is better for him than charity and fasting, because if he were to continue bearing a grudge against his brother, this would negate any reward he might receive for those acts of worship."