The Virtue of Reconciliation for Allah’s Pleasure and Forgiveness of Sins
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 241
What is the virtue of making reconciliation for the sake of Allah’s pleasure?
If two individuals quarrel with each other, and then reconcile purely for the sake of Allah ﷻ, what is the reward for this action?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿAmma Baʿd!
Reconciliation for the sake of Allah’s pleasure is a highly virtuous act and a means of forgiveness for sins. Numerous Aḥādīth highlight its virtue:
It is narrated in Ibn Abī Shaybah:
«وأیما بدا صاحبه کفرت ذنوبه»
“And whichever of the two begins (reconciliation), his sins will be forgiven.”
(al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb, Vol. 3, p. 456)
Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله has graded this narration as authentic.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb (Vol. 3, p. 50–51, Ḥadīth 2759)
Initially, the chain of narration for this ḥadīth was not found, so there was some discussion about its authenticity. Later, al-ḥamdu lillāh, the complete chain was located, as follows:
Full Chain:
Abū Bakr ibn Abī Shaybah → Isḥāq ibn Manṣūr → ʿAbd al-Wārith → Yazīd al-Rashk → Muʿādhah → Hishām ibn ʿĀmir who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لا یحل ان یصطرم افوق ثلاث فان اصطرما فوق ثلاث لم یجتمعا فی الجنة ابدا و أیهما بدا صاحبه کفرت ذنوبه وان هو سلم فلم یرد علیه ولم یقبل سلامه رد علیه الملک ورد علی ذلک الشیطان»
(al-Aḥkām al-Kubrā by ʿAbd al-Ḥaqq al-Ishbīlī, Vol. 3, p. 182, via al-Maktabah al-Shāmilah)
This ḥadīth is ṣaḥīḥ al-isnād (authentic in chain), al-ḥamdu lillāh.
In another ḥadīth, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«و اولهما فیئا یکون فیئه کفارة له»
“The one who first reconciles, his reconciliation will be an expiation for him.”
This ḥadīth is found in:
◈ al-Zuhd by Ibn al-Mubārak – Ḥadīth 784 (authentic chain and exact wording)
◈ Musnad Aḥmad – Vol. 20, Ḥadīth 16257
◈ Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, al-Iḥsān – Ḥadīth 5635
◈ Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān (another edition) – Ḥadīth 5664
From these aḥādīth, it becomes clear that:
◈ If two individuals quarrel and both strive to initiate reconciliation,
◈ both will earn immense reward,
◈ and their action will serve as an expiation for their sins.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 241
Question:
What is the virtue of making reconciliation for the sake of Allah’s pleasure?
If two individuals quarrel with each other, and then reconcile purely for the sake of Allah ﷻ, what is the reward for this action?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿAmma Baʿd!
Reconciliation for the sake of Allah’s pleasure is a highly virtuous act and a means of forgiveness for sins. Numerous Aḥādīth highlight its virtue:
Ḥadīth No. 1
It is narrated in Ibn Abī Shaybah:
«وأیما بدا صاحبه کفرت ذنوبه»
“And whichever of the two begins (reconciliation), his sins will be forgiven.”
(al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb, Vol. 3, p. 456)
Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله has graded this narration as authentic.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb (Vol. 3, p. 50–51, Ḥadīth 2759)
Initially, the chain of narration for this ḥadīth was not found, so there was some discussion about its authenticity. Later, al-ḥamdu lillāh, the complete chain was located, as follows:
Full Chain:
Abū Bakr ibn Abī Shaybah → Isḥāq ibn Manṣūr → ʿAbd al-Wārith → Yazīd al-Rashk → Muʿādhah → Hishām ibn ʿĀmir who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لا یحل ان یصطرم افوق ثلاث فان اصطرما فوق ثلاث لم یجتمعا فی الجنة ابدا و أیهما بدا صاحبه کفرت ذنوبه وان هو سلم فلم یرد علیه ولم یقبل سلامه رد علیه الملک ورد علی ذلک الشیطان»
(al-Aḥkām al-Kubrā by ʿAbd al-Ḥaqq al-Ishbīlī, Vol. 3, p. 182, via al-Maktabah al-Shāmilah)
This ḥadīth is ṣaḥīḥ al-isnād (authentic in chain), al-ḥamdu lillāh.
Ḥadīth No. 2
In another ḥadīth, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«و اولهما فیئا یکون فیئه کفارة له»
“The one who first reconciles, his reconciliation will be an expiation for him.”
This ḥadīth is found in:
◈ al-Zuhd by Ibn al-Mubārak – Ḥadīth 784 (authentic chain and exact wording)
◈ Musnad Aḥmad – Vol. 20, Ḥadīth 16257
◈ Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, al-Iḥsān – Ḥadīth 5635
◈ Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān (another edition) – Ḥadīth 5664
Meaning and Virtue
From these aḥādīth, it becomes clear that:
◈ If two individuals quarrel and both strive to initiate reconciliation,
◈ both will earn immense reward,
◈ and their action will serve as an expiation for their sins.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
