The religion of Islam literally means the religion of peace, harmony and loving bondage between believers. It is against the basic teaching of Islam to harbour rancour (or malice) in hearts for other believers. And it is stressed both in Qur'an and hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to make every effort to resolve conflicts between believers and bring them to a reconciliatory platform. And it is cautioned that of two believers do not resolve their mutual issues that are a source of hatred and enmity for each other, the doors of paradise will not open for them.
We share today a Hadith on this very subject as mentioned in Sahih Muslim (Book The Book Of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, And Joining Of The Ties Of Kinship - Chapter 46 on the topic of Virtue Good Manners as Hadith 6544, given herein under:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) as saying:
The gates of Paradise are not opened but on two days, Monday and Thursday. and then every servant (of Allah) is granted pardon who does not associate anything with Allah except the person in whose (heart) there is rancour against his brother. And it would be said: Look towards both of them until there is reconciliation; look toward both of them until there is reconciliation; look towards both of them until there is reconciliation.
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Suhail who narrated it on the authority of his father with the chain of transmitters of MaIik, but with this variation of wording:, (Those would not be granted pardon) who boycott each other.
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، فِيمَا قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: تُفْتَحُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الْإِثْنَيْنِ، وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ، فَيُغْفَرُ لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ لَا يُشْرِكُ بِاللهِ شَيْئًا، إِلَّا رَجُلًا كَانَتْ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ أَخِيهِ شَحْنَاءُ، فَيُقَالُ: أَنْظِرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا، أَنْظِرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا، أَنْظِرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا
Let us understand the key points mentioned in the Hadith:
- Opening of the Gates of Paradise: The gates of Paradise being opened on Monday and Thursday indicates that these days are special times for Allah’s mercy. It highlights the opportunity for forgiveness that is available to all believers.
- Pardon for the Believers: Allah, in His mercy, forgives the sins of those who are monotheistic (i.e., do not commit shirk, or associate anything with Allah). However, there is a condition for forgiveness: reconciliation must happen between individuals who are in conflict.
- The Exclusion of Those with Rancor: People who harbor rancor or hatred toward their fellow Muslims will not receive forgiveness during these times unless they reconcile. The term “rancor” refers to deep-seated ill-will or grudges, especially that which prevents peaceful relations between two parties.
- Emphasis on Reconciliation: The phrase “give them both time until there is reconciliation” is repeated three times in the hadith, which underscores the importance of reconciling. Allah is showing a clear preference for peace and harmony among believers, and He is giving time for people to make peace with each other before He grants forgiveness.
- The Seriousness of Conflict: The hadith highlights how significant the issue of maintaining good relations is in Islam. It implies that a person who refuses to reconcile and continues to harbor negative feelings or boycotts their brother is not in a state that is pleasing to Allah, even if they are otherwise pious or worshiping Allah correctly.
In view of the above key points, we should learn the lesson to induce love between hearts of believers and understand why reconciliation is necessary between believers:
- Importance of Reconciliation: Islam places great emphasis on maintaining peace and harmony between people, especially among Muslims. The hadith makes it clear that refusing to reconcile or maintaining hostility can block the path to forgiveness from Allah.
- Forgiveness and Mercy: While the hadith emphasizes reconciliation, it also highlights Allah's mercy, as He grants forgiveness to the majority of His servants who are sincere. However, those who let personal grudges get in the way of their relationship with others will find that their ability to receive Allah’s mercy is delayed.
- Spiritual Health: This hadith serves as a reminder that spiritual health is not just about worship or avoiding sins but also involves healthy interpersonal relationships. A Muslim’s heart should be free from malice, jealousy, or hatred towards others, as these feelings can act as barriers to receiving Allah’s mercy.
- Opportunity for Reconciliation: Allah is patient and gives time for reconciliation, showing that while He is ready to forgive, He also wants us to work towards resolving our disputes and repairing our relationships.
The Practical Implication of this Hadith
If you are in a conflict with someone, this hadith is a powerful reminder to make the effort to reconcile and seek peace. Holding grudges or refusing to forgive others not only harms relationships but also stands in the way of Allah’s forgiveness. Therefore, believers should strive to maintain peace and harmony within their communities and families.
The loving harmony between believers assumes so much of importance that even if one has boundless faith in Allah, his forgiveness will be deferred if he harbours rancour or malice in his heart for others till he reconciles with whom he carries a grudge and resolve the very cause of conflict amicably. However, if one person has harmed another person, then this caution is not applicable to the one who has been harmed. And in the meantime, the onus of reconciliation will solely lie on the aggressor and he will not be forgiven unless he himself reconciles with the one whom he has harmed and made good the harm so caused. And if that be so, then the aggrieved person should also forgive the aggressor.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our exclusive reference page Etiquettes taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more etiquettes attributed to Prophet Muhammad.
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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