Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 773 [Read full issue]
Reconciliation
"Bringing about justice between two is an act of charity." [Bukhari, Muslim]
The wording of the above saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him) implies bringing peace between two people, making conciliation between two people, judging justly between two people and so forth. It implies bringing two people or parties together in such a way that one has not made something forbidden permissible or vice-versa.
Making things aright between people is described as a kind of charity because of the wonderful results it brings about. It brings about peace, love and harmony between people who may have had, for whatever reason, some disharmony in their relationship with one another. From the Shariah point of view, this goal is so important that it is one of the few areas in which some form of lying is considered permissible. According to al-Bugha and Mistu, reconciling relationships between individuals is a communal obligation (fard kifayah). Sultan points out that the effect of such conciliatory behaviour is that it will make society like one body, united and working in accord with one another.
Compiled From:
"Commentary on the Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi" - Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo, p. 1000